Unlocking lock-in. Emergence, perpetuation and decline of regional entrepreneurship in transitional societies: examples from contemporary Poland
Unlocking lock-in. Emergence, perpetuation and decline of regional entrepreneurship in transitional societies: examples from contemporary Poland

Summary/Abstract: This paper examines how the phenomenon of lock-in can initially stimulate entrepre-neurship and path creation in transitional societies but eventually impede municipal development.Focusing on three Polish municipalities – Łeba, Łęknica, and Tarnowo Podgórne – we investigatethe factors that contribute to the persistence of lock-in and explore strategies to overcome it. Usingqualitative analysis grounded in interviews with entrepreneurs, municipal authorities, and residents,and drawing on evolutionary economic geography, neo-institutionalism theory, and the strategy-as--practice approach, we analyze the interplay between geohistorical factors, entrepreneurial practices,and local government legitimacy. Our findings reveal that proactive entrepreneurs, when supportedby responsive local governments, can redefine development strategies, foster diversification, and ef-fectively break the lock-in cycle. This study underscores the critical role of collaborative efforts be-tween entrepreneurs and municipal authorities in transforming regional development paths, offeringvaluable insights for policymakers in transitional economies.

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