Title: Natural gas regulation in transition: the effects of geopolitics and prerequisites for change in transition economies

Authors: Meredydd Evans

Addresses: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 8400 Baltimore Ave., Suite 201, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Abstract: Natural gas has become a geopolitical concern in Europe. Transition economies have embarked on very different paths in using and regulating natural gas. Some countries, like Russia, have undertaken few market-oriented reforms of their natural gas sectors. The new European Union member states have pursued broader reforms. These differences often lead to tension. Two factors seem particularly important as prerequisites for major natural gas reforms. The first is energy efficiency, since low energy efficiency can make energy reforms socially and economically difficult. The second is corruption: vested interests and a captive state can play powerful roles in inhibiting reform.

Keywords: natural gas reforms; utility regulation; energy efficiency; transparency; Russia; transition economies; geopolitics; change prerequisites; corruption; vested interests.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPP.2009.021546

International Journal of Public Policy, 2009 Vol.4 No.1/2, pp.32 - 50

Published online: 30 Nov 2008 *

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