Ghosh and Schot 2019_Accepted manuscipt.pdf (760.44 kB)
Towards a novel regime change framework: studying mobility transitions in public transport regimes in an Indian megacity
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 16:34 authored by Bipashyee Ghosh, Johan SchotMobility systems in megacities are facing persistent sustainability problems. A focus on regime shift in transitions literature in addressing these problems reflects a western bias as it relies on niches as sources of change. In megacities like in Kolkata, India, public transportation is dominant, and actors are more concerned to improve and upgrade a variety of public transport regimes. In this paper, we develop a framework for such regime analysis and explore regime transformation as a pathway in between regime optimisation and regime transition pathways. Drawing from evolutionary and institutional theories of socio-technical change, we characterised these three pathways of regime change through changes in trajectories, rules and selection pressures. Applying this novel framework, we study socio-technical changes in the past 15 years in multiple urban public transportation regimes in Kolkata through a mapping tool which may be useful in policy contexts. We find that regime actors can act as front-runners in these change processes and that meta-rules guide directionality of change. We conclude on how sustainability transitions can happen right away within existing regimes, without recourse to niche development.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Energy Research & Social ScienceISSN
2214-6296Publisher
ElsevierExternal DOI
Volume
51Page range
82-95Department affiliated with
- SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications
Research groups affiliated with
- The Sussex Energy Group Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes