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Tracks Across Continents, Paths Through History

The Economic Dynamics of Standardization in Railway Gauge

By: Douglas J. Puffert

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Tracks Across Continents, Paths Through History

The Economic Dynamics of Standardization in Railway Gauge

By: Douglas J. Puffert

A standard track gauge—the distance between the two rails—enables connecting railway lines to exchange traffic. But despite the benefits of standardization, early North American railways used six different gauges extensively, and even today breaks of gauge at national borders and within such countries as India and Australia are expensive burdens on commerce. In Tracks across Continents, Paths through History, Douglas J. Puffert offers a global history of railway track gauge, examining early choices and the dynamic process of diversity and standardization that resulted. Drawing on the economic theory of path dependence, and grounded in economic, technical, and institutional realities, this innovative volume traces how early historical events, and even idiosyncratic personalities, have affected choices of gauge ever since, despite changing technology and understandings of what gauge is optimal. Puffert also uses this history to develop new insights in the theory of path dependence. Tracks across Continents, Paths through History will be essential reading for anyone interested in how history and economics inform each other.

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Page Count

375

Publisher

University of Chicago Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0226685098

ISBN 13

9780226685090

Tracks Across Continents, Paths Through History

The Economic Dynamics of Standardization in Railway Gauge

By: Douglas J. Puffert

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Tracks Across Continents, Paths Through History

The Economic Dynamics of Standardization in Railway Gauge

By: Douglas J. Puffert

A standard track gauge—the distance between the two rails—enables connecting railway lines to exchange traffic. But despite the benefits of standardization, early North American railways used six different gauges extensively, and even today breaks of gauge at national borders and within such countries as India and Australia are expensive burdens on commerce. In Tracks across Continents, Paths through History, Douglas J. Puffert offers a global history of railway track gauge, examining early choices and the dynamic process of diversity and standardization that resulted. Drawing on the economic theory of path dependence, and grounded in economic, technical, and institutional realities, this innovative volume traces how early historical events, and even idiosyncratic personalities, have affected choices of gauge ever since, despite changing technology and understandings of what gauge is optimal. Puffert also uses this history to develop new insights in the theory of path dependence. Tracks across Continents, Paths through History will be essential reading for anyone interested in how history and economics inform each other.

Average ratings

N/A

5

0%

4

0%

3

0%

2

0%

1

0%

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

375

Publisher

University of Chicago Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0226685098

ISBN 13

9780226685090