Path dependence and the Korean alphabet

The paper examines the history of the Korean Alphabet as a possible case of third degree path dependence. The Korean Alphabet, a system of writing invented in the mid-15th century superior to the one then in use, was largely neglected for nearly 500 years and finally adopted as the official script in the mid 20th century. The neglect of the superior writing system seems due to a combination of second degree path dependence and institutional barriers that did not permit competition. The processes by which the alphabet later became official are consistent with the view.