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Title: Social constraints on energy-policy implementation

Book ·
OSTI ID:6361300

Whether in comparing policymaking in the United States with the policy actions of other countries or in applying models of ideal policy formulation, it is often difficult to understand the variety of social factors that constrain and limit policy. Even when such constraints are realized, they are often viewed as pathologies that need to be obviated, remedied, or somehow overcome. It is common, therefore, to lament the absence of comprehensiveness in US national policy. The barriers to comprehensiveness in the United States are numerous, including the usual technical considerations, lack of knowledge, lack of resources, and lack of time. But there are many others, spanning social and institutional factors. This book is written with the idea that more research must be directed toward understanding the variety of important constraints on energy policymaking. Enormous amounts of material have been generated in the past decade about the shape of optimal policy, according to a variety of perspectives. The editors feel, however, that more research should be directed not only to formulating yet some other version of optimal energy policy but also to examining the important features of society that impose constraints on choice and limit the range of policy options available, not only for managing energy issues, but for managing other policy areas as well. A separate abstract was prepared for each of the nine chapters, with each selected for the Energy Data Base (EDB) and Energy Abstracts for Policy Analysis (EAPA).

OSTI ID:
6361300
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English