Published on
July 23, 2026
Identifying the deep drivers of system change: A rule-based approach to socio-technical system mapping
Sustainability transitions research recognises that transforming energy, mobility, food, and other systems requires going beyond incremental, surface-level fixes to address the deeper drivers of system change. Yet these deeper drivers have not been systematically identified.In this paper, the authors argue that the Deep Transitions (DT) concept of rules provides a useful starting point.
Rules are the beliefs, incentives, norms, policy paradigms, and business practices that shape how socio-technical systems operate.🧩 The paper addresses three key limitations of existing system mapping in transitions studies:
• The under-specification of systems in terms of their constituent rules.
• A focus on individual systems, overlooking rules that cut across multiple systems.
• The place-specific nature of many existing system maps.
What does the paper offer?
🧩 A systematic research procedure for rule mapping.
🗺️ New rule maps for three socio-technical systems (energy, mobility, and food) showing their globally dominant rules.
🗺️ Rule maps of three meta-regimes—mass production/consumption, digitalisation, and sustainability—that have shaped multiple systems over the past 120 years.
🔍 An analysis of how energy, mobility, and food systems have evolved under these different meta-regimes.
đź“Š Evidence from two experiments with policymakers and investors, demonstrating the practical value of the rule-mapping approach.
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By Laur Kanger, Phil Johnstone, Janset Nil Genç, Niko Wojtynia, Bipashyee Ghosh, W. Edward Steinmueller, Diana Velasco, MĂriam Acebillo-BaquĂ©, Alejandra Boni, and Johan Schot.
