Towards the Systemization of Energy Policy Studies

Abstract

In order to make consistent policy recommendations on interrelated various energy issues, the systematization of energy policy studies will be required. In this review, first the current situations of publication and education of energy policy studies are surveyed for reference. No book with the title of "energy policy studies" has ever been published in Japan. Quite a few Japanese universities offer courses on energy policy studies at undergraduate or graduate level. Then those of environmental policy studies, which is one of the neighboring areas to energy policy studies, are surveyed. As for environmental policy studies, introductory books have already been published in Japanese and many Japanese universities offer undergraduate and graduate level courses. Referring to the systematization of environmental policy studies in publication and education, energy policy studies can be systematized as the combination of four approaches: a) historical approach, b) policy area approach, c) policy tool approach, and d) research technique approach.