Evolving national policy for materials
This article traces U.S. materials policy since World War I, characterizes the abrupt change in the status of materials in the mid-1970's, and discusses contemporary approaches and concepts that respond to this change; it concludes that national materials policy-making in the United States has been a succession of fragmented, incoherent spasms. Materials policy is complex because it is affected by different groups with different problems and different options to achieve the range of objectives. There is no way that national policy can fully meet all national needs. The author suggests three future policies in materials. First, we should identify those economic, technological, and political elements that encourage or discourage good materials management and respond to these findings. Second, we should maintain surveillance of all aspects of national materials management to detect emerging obstacles to good performance and lags in execution. Third, we should develop an institutional capability for (i) quickly correcting sudden deficiencies in national materials management, and (ii) detecting and gradually correcting undesirable trends in the management of the materials cycle. (MCW)
- Research Organization:
- Library of Congress, Washington, DC
- OSTI ID:
- 7355564
- Journal Information:
- Science; (United States), Vol. 191:4228
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SOURCES
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
MATERIALS
METALS
MINERALS
PLASTICS
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
DEMAND FACTORS
ENERGY DEMAND
ENERGY SUPPLIES
NATIONAL DEFENSE
PRODUCTION
SECURITY
USA
ELEMENTS
NORTH AMERICA
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
290400* - Energy Planning & Policy- Energy Resources
293000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
320302 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Materials