3 am feels

            The notion of path dependence raises concerns about the nature of institutional development. According to Lebron, path dependence in regard to institutional reform refers to how an institution’s future prospects are limited by the past through several natural mechanisms. Path dependency plays a large role in the persistence of norms, identity, and character. In order to explain the persistence of racial biases, Lebron asserts that, “institutions can come to possess bad characteristics that are not easily shed, thus continue to produce outcomes consistent with bad character” (60).

            There are several obstacles encountered when advocating for institutional development. Mainly, social initiatives require a certain amount of social momentum—the ideas presented must be supported by many, the incentives must align, etc. However, once these social initiatives take place, they provide “learning effects,” (59) which reinforce these new ideas and make it more difficult to pursue other initiatives. This isn’t wholly bad—this actually suggests that once social initiatives overcome barriers (social initiatives that would combat implicit racism in some shape or form), they will remain stable. Lebron emphasizes, on the one hand, how this resistance to change can be a good thing. It is incredibly difficult to reform the constitution for good reason; the constitution provides fundamental principles that are not subject to the whim of whichever political party is in control. On the other hand, however, this resistance can be detrimental to the development of good national character in the context of today's institutions' bad character.

            Perhaps if one could hold companies and politicians to a higher standard, by evidencing their moral dissonance through shame, the “large setup costs” (59) of implementing new social initiatives could be overcome and institutional change could lead the way for new norms. An initial thought is that shaming politicians and executives through social media and news platforms could be extremely effective. Negative PR threatens support and sales. If we can convince a handful to support these reforms, the effects of them will influence all members of society. It also raises the question: how are socially corrupted members of society to “gather influence and backing, convince dissenters, and overcome competing entrenched interests” (59) if the initial institutional character, which is bad, produces and perpetuates bad character within society?