Publications [#238498] of Timur Kuran

Journal Articles

1. Kuran, T, The tenacious past: Theories of personal and collective conservatism, Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, vol. 10 no. 2 (January, 1988), pp. 143-171, Elsevier BV, ISSN 0167-2681 [doi]
   (last updated on 2026/01/19)

   Abstract:
   A number of theories have been developed to explain why societies do not always adapt to changing conditions. These are critiqued here, with an emphasis on their substantive and methodological differences. Some theories ascribe lack of adaptation to personal conservatism, attachment to the past by the individual members of society. Others invoke collective conservatism, the attachment of society as a whole to collective past choices. Methodologically, the theories differ in the extent to which they resort to optimistic functionalism. A limitation common to most is that they overlook the feedback from actual choices to individuals' beliefs and preferences. © 1988.