Energy policy and boom/bust cycles: government action and instability in the development of oil shale

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Policy Stud. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-0072.1984.tb00351.x· OSTI ID:5680475

Costain, W D

Recent advances in oil shale technology have coincided with sharp increases in the price of conventional petroleum, but no synthetic fuel industry emerged. When the raw material needed by the industry is publicly owned, public policy also becomes a major factor shaping the development of an oil shale industry. Oil shale policy making is caught up in broader political debates concerning the basic framework of business-government relations. Recurring cycles of optimism and pessimism over oil shale have led to a sequence of booms and busts in development activities. The author examines the factors contributing to unstable public policies as an important cause of the failure of the nonconventional petroleum industry. 25 references.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA
• OSTI ID: 5680475
• Journal Information: Policy Stud. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Policy Stud. J.; (United States) Vol. 13:2; ISSN PSJOD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040800 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Economics
Industrial
& Business Aspects
042000* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Legislation & Regulations
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
294004 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Oil Shales & Tar Sands
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ECONOMICS
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INDUSTRY
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
MATERIALS
OIL SHALES
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
POLITICAL ASPECTS
PUBLIC LANDS
PUBLIC POLICY