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In Search of ‘Good’ Energy Policy: The Social Limits to Technological Solutions to Energy and Climate Problems

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  • Michael G. Pollitt

Abstract

This paper seeks to explore the nature of ‘Good’ Energy Policy by offering a multi-disciplinary social science and humanities perspective on policy making. The objective in doing this is to understand how to get from where we are today to a ‘better’ energy policy. We begin by discussing what we mean by ‘policy’. We then go on to characterise and challenge the technologists’ approach to energy policy. Next we discuss some key intellectual starting points that explain why policy making in this area is so difficult. We then turn to a set of multi-disciplinary social science and humanities perspectives on energy policy that together form promising areas for research. These are: perception; quantification; well-being; public trust; role of the state; competence and hubris in delivery; and parallels with healthcare. We close by discussing how these perspectives can illuminate whether a policy is ‘good’, ‘bad’ or something in between.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael G. Pollitt, 2015. "In Search of ‘Good’ Energy Policy: The Social Limits to Technological Solutions to Energy and Climate Problems," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 1537, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    • Handle: RePEc:cam:camdae:1537
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fouquet, Roger, 2011. "Long run trends in energy-related external costs," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(12), pages 2380-2389.
    2. Pollitt, M., 2010. "Green Values in Communities: How and why to engage individuals with decarbonisation targets," Working Papers wp398, Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge.
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    4. Oseni, Musiliu O. & Pollitt, Michael G., 2015. "A firm-level analysis of outage loss differentials and self-generation: Evidence from African business enterprises," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(PB), pages 277-286.
    5. Roger Fouquet (ed.), 2013. "Handbook on Energy and Climate Change," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 14429.
    6. Bent Flyvbjerg, 2014. "What You Should Know About Megaprojects, and Why: An Overview," Papers 1409.0003, arXiv.org.
    7. Allen,Robert C., 2009. "The British Industrial Revolution in Global Perspective," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521868273.
    8. Mallika Chawla & Michael G. Pollitt, 2013. "Energy-efficiency and Environmental Policies & Income Supplements in the UK: Evolution and Distributional Impacts on Domestic Energy Bills," Economics of Energy & Environmental Policy, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 1).
    9. Foreman-Peck, James & Waterson, Michael, 1985. "The Comparative Efficiency of Public and Private Enterprise in Britain: Electricity Generation between the World Wars," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 95(380a), pages 83-95, Supplemen.
    10. Lave, Lester B, 1984. "Controlling Contradictions among Regulations," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 74(3), pages 471-475, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alexander Vallejo Díaz & Idalberto Herrera Moya & Edwin Garabitos Lara & Cándida K. Casilla Victorino, 2024. "Assessment of Urban Wind Potential and the Stakeholders Involved in Energy Decision-Making," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-20, February.
    2. Michael G. Pollitt & Lewis Dale, 2018. "Restructuring the Chinese Electricity Supply Sector – How industrial electricity prices are determined in a liberalized power market: lessons from Great Britain," Working Papers EPRG 1839, Energy Policy Research Group, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.
    3. Michael G. Pollitt, 2016. "A Global Carbon Market?," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 1615, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    4. Hirmer, S.A. & George-Williams, H. & Rhys, J. & McNicholl, D. & McCulloch, M., 2021. "Stakeholder decision-making: Understanding Sierra Leone's energy sector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    energy policy; mult-discipinary; perspective;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H54 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Infrastructures
    • L98 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Government Policy

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