Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Kemp, R.
Author-Email: kemp@merit.unu.edu
Author-Workplace-Name: UNU-MERIT
Author-Name: van den Bergh, J.
Author-Email: jbergh@feweb.vu.nl
Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, 
 	Vrije Universiteit and Institute for Environmental Studies
Title: Economics and Transitions: Lessons from Economic Sub-disciplines 
Abstract: Currently, there is much interest in stimulating or 'speeding up' 
	 socio-technical transitions to sustainable systems, most notably in the 
	 sectors of energy, transport and agriculture. This essay attempts to 
	 assess whether and how 'transition' type problems and issues are being 
	 addressed in the various sub-disciplines and methodological approaches 
	 of economics. This allows us to identify concepts, ideas, theories and 
	 empirical methods in economics that are suitable for inclusion and 
	 elaboration in 'transition research'. Surprisingly, we find that many 
	 sub-disciplines of economics have in one way or another addressed 
	 problems similar to transitions. Our main conclusion therefore is that 
	 economics offers a rich palette of ideas that may be useful for 
	 transition research. Studies on development stages, long waves, 
	 technological path-dependency, conflict resolution, public investments, 
	 emergence of institutions and, transitions from communist to 
	 market-democracy systems seem especially relevant to the study of 
	 transition. Although mainstream economics conflicts in certain ways with 
	 the approach called for by many involved in transition research, we show 
	 that economics certainly has something to offer to the study of 
	 transitions. 
Classification-JEL: Q01, O13, O33  
Keywords: Sustainable Development, Technological Change, Economic Development 
Series: UNU-MERIT Working Papers
Creation-Date: 2006
Number: 2006-038
File-URL: https://unu-merit.nl/publications/wppdf/2006/wp2006-038.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 275 Kb
Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2006038