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How the structural composition of sectors shapes socio-technical transitions

Miorner, Johan LU orcid ; Binz, Christian LU and Fuenfschilling, Lea LU (2026) In Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions 59.
Abstract

Recent studies provide compelling evidence that transition dynamics differ between sectors. This paper develops a theoretical framework for analysing the structural composition of a sector and how it shapes transition dynamics. We elaborate a conceptual approach, which emphasizes socio-technical configurations and their degrees of institutionalization and mutual alignment as the key building blocks for analysing sector-specific opportunities, barriers and leverage points for transitions. The framework is illustrated with examples from two sectors that fundamentally differ in their structural composition and resulting transition patterns: 1) Urban Water Management, in which one socio-technical configuration is dominating the field... (More)

Recent studies provide compelling evidence that transition dynamics differ between sectors. This paper develops a theoretical framework for analysing the structural composition of a sector and how it shapes transition dynamics. We elaborate a conceptual approach, which emphasizes socio-technical configurations and their degrees of institutionalization and mutual alignment as the key building blocks for analysing sector-specific opportunities, barriers and leverage points for transitions. The framework is illustrated with examples from two sectors that fundamentally differ in their structural composition and resulting transition patterns: 1) Urban Water Management, in which one socio-technical configuration is dominating the field globally, and 2) Urban Mobility, which is characterized by a polycentric combination of configurations that provide mobility services in spatially diversified ways. Juxtaposing these two cases shows that the relevant transition dynamics and scales of intervention fundamentally differ between sectors’ structural compositions, which opens highly constructive avenues for more sector-specific and spatially sensitive theorizing of transition dynamics, and for deriving policy advice.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Sector transformation, Socio-technical systems, Spatial patterns, Structural composition of sectors, Transition dynamics
in
Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions
volume
59
article number
101065
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:105024189830
ISSN
2210-4224
DOI
10.1016/j.eist.2025.101065
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
id
02011b38-9a83-4490-84ed-c2251ce350e1
date added to LUP
2025-12-22 09:16:28
date last changed
2026-01-07 14:02:04
@article{02011b38-9a83-4490-84ed-c2251ce350e1,
  abstract     = {{<p>Recent studies provide compelling evidence that transition dynamics differ between sectors. This paper develops a theoretical framework for analysing the structural composition of a sector and how it shapes transition dynamics. We elaborate a conceptual approach, which emphasizes socio-technical configurations and their degrees of institutionalization and mutual alignment as the key building blocks for analysing sector-specific opportunities, barriers and leverage points for transitions. The framework is illustrated with examples from two sectors that fundamentally differ in their structural composition and resulting transition patterns: 1) Urban Water Management, in which one socio-technical configuration is dominating the field globally, and 2) Urban Mobility, which is characterized by a polycentric combination of configurations that provide mobility services in spatially diversified ways. Juxtaposing these two cases shows that the relevant transition dynamics and scales of intervention fundamentally differ between sectors’ structural compositions, which opens highly constructive avenues for more sector-specific and spatially sensitive theorizing of transition dynamics, and for deriving policy advice.</p>}},
  author       = {{Miorner, Johan and Binz, Christian and Fuenfschilling, Lea}},
  issn         = {{2210-4224}},
  keywords     = {{Sector transformation; Socio-technical systems; Spatial patterns; Structural composition of sectors; Transition dynamics}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions}},
  title        = {{How the structural composition of sectors shapes socio-technical transitions}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2025.101065}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.eist.2025.101065}},
  volume       = {{59}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}