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742. A Marshall Plan For Energy And Water Supply In Developing Countries
- Author:
- Richard L. Lawson, John R. Lyman, and Donald L. Guertin
- Publication Date:
- 03-2005
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Atlantic Council
- Abstract:
- Today, hunger, poverty, and desperation remain prevalent throughout much of the developing world. If we are to live in a 21st century more prone to peace than violence, the developed countries must move expeditiously to address the developing countries' energy and water problems. The availability, accessibility and affordability of energy and water are vital to the economic development that is required to alleviate global poverty and to address environmental degradation.
- Topic:
- Development, Energy Policy, Environment, and Poverty
743. Getting to “No”: Defending Against Demands in NAFTA Energy Negotiations
- Author:
- Antonio Ortiz Mena L.N.
- Publication Date:
- 06-2005
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas
- Abstract:
- How can a developing country defend itself against unwanted demands in international economic negotiations, especially when the demandeur is a stronger state? Such defense can be a necessary component of any strategy, not only a distributive one but also a mixed strategy aimed at a wider agreement that benefits both sides. Sometimes what looks like an unwelcome demand turns out, after exploration and exchanges of concessions, to be an acceptable element in a beneficial package deal. But some demands are unwelcome in the stronger sense that one's government places an infinite reservation value on that particular issue. The government would prefer no agreement. In the case of a deal breaker, the delegation can walk away from the entire negotiation, but this could have large costs in opportunities foregone and even possible penalties imposed. What are the alternatives short of walking away? Mexico's negotiators faced such situation in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations with the United States and Canada (1990-1992), specifically in the energy sector. In general the three states sought a mutual-gains agreement, and in general each employed a mixed strategy. In energy, however, Washington made demands--regarding investment and supply commitments--which Mexico found unacceptable. At the end of the day the Mexican team managed to attain its main offensive negotiation aims in NAFTA (significantly improved market access, faster tariff reductions in the U.S. and Canada than in Mexico, and an effective dispute settlement mechanism), as well as the main defensive ones in energy. How did they do it? Structural conditions, such as being a neighbor of the U.S., gives Mexico certain leverage in negotiations, for the U.S. will typically take into account non-economic considerations when negotiating over economic issues. Nonetheless, many lessons derived from Mexico's negotiation strategy in energy negotiations during NAFTA can be applied across a range of cases.
- Topic:
- Development, Economics, Energy Policy, and Government
- Political Geography:
- United States, Washington, Canada, North America, and Mexico
744. Multilateral approaches to the nuclear fuel cycle
- Author:
- Lance Joseph
- Publication Date:
- 08-2005
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Lowy Institute for International Policy
- Abstract:
- The 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is meant to be underpinned by a three-part bargain: states without weapons were to foreswear them and the wherewithal to build them; states with such weapons were to get rid of them, gradually and as part of general nuclear disarmament; and all parties were to cooperate in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
- Topic:
- Arms Control and Proliferation, Energy Policy, Nuclear Weapons, and Science and Technology
745. Sensible climate policy
- Author:
- Warwick McKibbin
- Publication Date:
- 02-2005
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Lowy Institute for International Policy
- Abstract:
- The Kyoto Protocol enters into force on February 16, 2005. Nearly thirteen years after negotiations began at the Rio Earth Summit and seven years after the Kyoto Protocol was negotiated, this should be a cause for global celebration. Yet the basic tenets on which the Kyoto Protocol are built are flawed and leave it worryingly vulnerable to failure. Already proponents of Kyoto are looking for alternatives “beyond Kyoto”. It is no accident that it has taken so long for the Protocol to enter into force with so few of the major future greenhouse emitters effective participants.
- Topic:
- International Relations, Energy Policy, and Environment
- Political Geography:
- Australia/Pacific
746. Managing Energy Insecurity
- Author:
- John Browne
- Publication Date:
- 02-2005
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Peterson Institute for International Economics
- Abstract:
- It is great to be in Washington again and a privilege to be invited to speak here for the first time. You asked me to talk about energy security, and I think the basic question is whether, to use the words of one of your recent papers, there is "a gathering storm" around energy supply, and what, if anything, should and could be done to avert that storm.
- Topic:
- Economics, Energy Policy, and Science and Technology
- Political Geography:
- United States and Washington
747. Energy Conservation: An Economic Perspective
- Author:
- Robert W. Hahn
- Publication Date:
- 10-2005
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
- Abstract:
- With oil and gas prices at record levels, Persian Gulf producers threatened by terrorists, and exploding demand from China likely to strain supplies for years to come, surely it is time for Washington to get serious about energy conservation. Well, yes . . . and no. While most economists (including me) are deeply skeptical about the value of government mandates for energy efficiency, in principle there is a case to be made for using taxes to “internalize” the costs of consumption that are not otherwise reflected in prices. But those costs are lower than you might expect—lower, perhaps, than the taxes currently charged at the pump. Moreover, while oil-security worries are now driving the calls for conservation, a careful look suggests that the neglected costs are actually related to traffic congestion and the threat of global warming. Taxing oil consumption (as opposed to taxing road use or carbon emissions) would hardly get to the roots of these problems.
- Topic:
- International Relations, Economics, Energy Policy, and Terrorism
- Political Geography:
- China and Washington
748. Demand Policy Instruments for R Procurement, Technical Standards and The Case of Indian Vaccines
- Author:
- Smita Srinivas
- Publication Date:
- 12-2004
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University
- Abstract:
- Vaccines represent a nearly $8 billion global industry today , which is projected to grow to $10 billion in 2010 (PhRMA, 2001). In 2001, worldwide spending on R for “biologicals,” of which vaccines are the largest segment, was $1.1 billion (about 4% of total private pharmaceutical R) (PhRMA, 2001). Although vaccines com p rise only 2% of the global pharmaceutical market, it is indispensable for public health immunization the world over. Yet, at the same time, the number of private vaccine suppliers in advanced industrialised countries is shrinking (in the US alone, there were over twenty vaccine suppliers until the 1970s and now approximately five exist); firm s in developing countries must pick up some of this slack, especially for vaccines that are especially important for diseases prevalent in developing countries.
- Topic:
- Energy Policy, Human Welfare, Industrial Policy, and Science and Technology
749. CATO Institute: Rethinking Electricity Restructuring
- Author:
- Peter Van Doren and Jerry Taylor
- Publication Date:
- 11-2004
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- The Cato Institute
- Abstract:
- Electric utility restructuring was initiated in the 1990s to remedy the problem of relatively high electricity costs in the Northeast and California. While politicians hoped that reform would allow low-cost electricity to flow to highcost states and that competition would reduce prices, economists wanted reform to eliminate regulatory incentives to overbuild generating capacity and spur the introduction of real-time prices for electricity.
- Topic:
- Economics, Energy Policy, Government, and Politics
- Political Geography:
- California
750. Power Sector Reforms in India: Issues Relating to Agriculture
- Author:
- Rafiq Dossani
- Publication Date:
- 03-2004
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center
- Abstract:
- Firstly, the cost-to-serve for each category of consumer varies depending on several factors. There are technical reasons such as power factor, voltage of supply and so on which are set out in the Electricity Supply Act, 1948. There are also commercial reasons. In some situations, the total quantity of power available could not be sold, unless some categories of consumers we are charged a lower tariff. There are also considerations of equity or the need to meet the merit wants of the poorer population, which prompted differential pricing.
- Topic:
- Agriculture, Economics, and Energy Policy
- Political Geography:
- South Asia and India