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U.S. Department of Energy
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Fraught with risk: the political economy of petroleum policies in Canada and Mexico

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:5845149

This dissertation examines the post-war evolution and development of energy policies in Canada and Mexico. It assesses key policy initiatives in the light of dependency theory, economic theories, theories of state-owned enterprise, and a variety of theories of the state. It systematically critiques these theories and offers in their place an alternative theory of political risk aversion. In support of this theory, it is argued that policies are best explained by a common desire by political elites in these two countries to alleviate direct threats to their own tenure and to the survival of political institutions of which they are members. It is demonstrated that despite profound economic, social, and political differences that distinguish Canada and Mexico, political elites have behaved in identical ways and, moreover, that policy outcomes in energy have been remarkably similar. Although the focus is on energy policies, it considers them within the broader economic and political setting, and draws parallels with other policy areas such as macroeconomic policy, investment policy, trade policy, social policy, and foreign policy.

OSTI ID:
5845149
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English