近20年路径依赖理论研究回望——基于Web of Science（1996-2017）数据库文献

关于路径依赖的文献数量从2010后大幅度增长，文献数量最多的国家是美国。通过文献共被引分析得到路径依赖的理论基础:分别是以David、North、Arthur等学者为代表的较早期研究。关键词共被引分析得出路径依赖理论的研究热点为路径锁定（lock-in）、演化（evolution），创新（innovation）、报酬递增（increasing returns）等。近20年路径依赖的发展经历了三个时期:理论基础形成时期，理论扩展研究时期，理论应用研究时期。研究进程中呈现出理论诠释逐渐完善、概念阐析不断深化、研究内容渐趋发散以及定量研究方法仍然是难点的特征。

A Review of Path Dependence Theory Abroad in the Past 20 Years as Based on Knowledge Mapping Analysis from Web of Science Database

The number of articles on path dependence has increased quickly since 2010. The country which has the largest number of documents is the United States. Through co-citation analysis, we can find the theoretical basis of path dependence theory. David PA, North DC and Arthur WB are the early researchers. Keywords co-citation analysis indicates the research focuses which are lock-in, evolution, innovation, increasing returns and so on. The research evolution of path dependence can be divided into three periods: the formation of theoretical foundation, the expansion of the theory, application research of the theory. The research characteristics of path dependence are: the theoretical interpretations are gradually improved, the conceptual analyzes are continuously deepened, the research contents are gradually divergent and the quantitative research methods are still difficult.