Path Dependence Everywhere?
Once students are introduced to the concept of path dependence, they tend to find examples of it everywhere, like tootsie rolls.
In the wake of American Writer’s Guild Strikes, Canadians are producing some new great shows.
Wait… Canadians? TV? It’s not hockey?
Right.
Why don’t we see more TV from Canada, or anywhere else abroad? Tyler Cowen suggests:
Have you heard about cultural path dependence? The simplest hypothesis, of course, is that once Canadian producers gain a foothold in their home market they will be able to keep it. I’ll predict no, but stay tuned for further reports next year…
Or maybe everybody else’s programming sucks, like Beta max and the Dvorak keyboard?
The comments at MR have the last word:
“Canadian shows, as a rule, are awful, especially the critically acclaimed ones. The United States would be better off showing reruns of Dallas.” (Robert S. Porter)
