The Impact of Density Dependence, Sociopolitical Legitimation and Competitive Intensity on Self-Help/Mutual-Aid Formation
Organization Studies · 2008 · Volume 29 · Issue 1
Abstract
Density-dependent and density-independent legitimation and competition are used to explain the evolution of self-help/mutual-aid (1955—2000), a long-lived population of health movement organizations. While previous research suggests the importance of both kinds of measures, this paper shows that better specification of density-independent sociopolitical legitimation and competitive intensity improves understanding of organizational and institutional factors affecting organizational formation. Sociopolitical legitimation, for instance, has a beneficial impact on self-help/mutual-aid formation, but later depresses founding rates because identity enclosure hinders new entries. Implications for further studies of identity, legitimation and competition are discussed.
Keywords
sociopolitical legitimation, competitive intensity, density dependence, health social movements
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