ABSTRACT
In Chapter 6, it was argued that inertia is a characteristic not only of physical and biological change, but also of social and institutional processes. Reference was made to ‘path dependence’. We are in many ways ‘locked into’ specific development paths. Our present political–economic system, where democracy is combined with a form of market capitalism, is not easily changed. And there are many who see no reason for change, but in fact perceive the present situation as the best of all possible worlds. For them, continuing along the present development path presents few problems.
