Environmental Policy and Technical Change

René Kemp, UNU-MERIT, Maastricht University, The Netherlands

'This book is worth reading (and understanding) for economists, politicians and students who are interested in learning about economics and the way it tries to contribute solutions to environmental conflicts. I found this a splendid approach for dealing with complex systems, which crosses scientific barriers and should make some of that science understandable to decision-makers.'

• Contents: 1. Introduction Part I: Theoretical Models of Innovation and Diffusion 2. A Critical Survey of Innovation Models in Pollution Control 3. New Models of Innovation in Pollution Control 4. An Interpretative Survey of Technological Diffusion Models 5. The Diffusion of Environmentally Beneficial Technological Innovations Part II: Empirical Studies of Environmentally Beneficial Technologies 6. The Diffusion of Biological Waste-Water Treatment Plants in the Dutch Food and Beverage Industry 7. The Diffusion of Thermal Home Insulation in the Netherlands 8. Case Studies of Cleaner Technologies 9. Technology Effects of Past Environmental Policies: An Overview Part III: The Problem of Technological Regime Shifts 10. Continuity and Change in Technological Regimes 11. Understanding Technological Regime Shifts 12. The Transition from Hydrocarbons 13. Conclusions References Index