Going Beyond Instrument Interactions: Towards a More Comprehensive Policy Mix Conceptualization for Environmental Technological Change

Karoline S. Rogge () and Kristin Reichardt
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Karoline S. Rogge: Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (Fraunhofer ISI), Karlsruhe, Germany
Kristin Reichardt: Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

SPRU Working Paper Series from SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School

Abstract: Reaching a better understanding of the policies and politics of transitions presents a main agenda item in the emerging field of sustainability transitions. One important require- ment for these transitions, such as the move towards a decarbonized energy system, is the redirection and acceleration of technological change, for which policies play a key role. Several studies of policies supporting environmental technological change have ar- gued for the need to combine different policy instruments in so-called policy mixes. However, existing policy mix studies often fall short of reflecting the complexity and dy- namics of actual policy mixes and the underlying politics of (re)designing them. In this paper we take a first step towards a more comprehensive, interdisciplinary policy mix concept for environmental technological change based on a review of the bodies of lit- erature on innovation studies, environmental economics and policy analysis. The concept introduces a clear terminology and consists of the three building blocks elements, proc- esses and characteristics, which can be delineated by several dimensions. Throughout the paper, we illustrate the concept using the example of the policy mix for fostering the transition of the German energy system to renewable power generation technologies. We argue that the proposed concept provides an integrating analytical framework for empirical studies analyzing the impact of the policy mix on environmental technological change and sustainability transitions more broadly. Finally, we derive policy implications and suggest avenues for future research.

Keywords: Policy mix; policy strategy; instrument mix; policy making and implementation; consistency; coherence; credibility; comprehensiveness; environmental technological change; eco-innovation; sustainability transitions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L38 L52 L94 O13 O14 O38 P48 Q01 Q28 Q48 Q54 Q55 Q58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene, nep-env, nep-hme and nep-res
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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