Transition failure strengthening regime stability in socio-technical systems: A case study of shared mobility market in South Korea

Abstract

From the aspect of socio-technical transitions, South Korea’s shared mobility services can be described as a case of transition failure. In extant studies, transition failure has mostly been treated at the regime level, and the effects of a failed niche have been often ignored as if they do not impact the established system. Although the impact of failed niches is inconsequential compared to that of successful niches, regime actors can still interact and reinforce mutual stability within the existing regime and make either a positive or a negative impact even after the failed niches disappear. This study explains the effects of the failed niche, which attempted transition to a new socio-technical system, from a novel perspective. By revisiting the triple embeddedness framework, South Korea’s shared mobility market has been selected as the representative case for transition failure. We find that failed shared mobility services in South Korea affecting regime stability through regime actors’ networks, institutional inertia, and the imprinting effect. Our results highlight the significance of transition failure and provide adequate regulatory intervention to overcome regime barrier.