institutionsparks
Institutionsparks are catalysts that trigger changes in formal or informal institutions within political, economic, or organizational systems. The term, used in institutional theory and comparative politics, refers to events, ideas, or actors whose influence provokes the creation, reform, or abolition of rules, norms, and governance structures. They are distinct from the gradual maturation of institutions, focusing on discrete triggers that alter trajectories.
Common types include economic or political shocks, social movements, leadership changes, technological breakthroughs, and policy experiments.
The subsequent process typically involves debate and bargaining, followed by the design and adoption of new
Examples commonly discussed in the literature include economic shocks such as the Great Depression that helped
Critics note challenges in attributing change to a single spark, given overlapping causes and long-running processes.