ABSTRACT
The idea that policies can have political effects is now a well-established idea in political science, with a number of applications in areas such as welfare and pensions policy. Political elites may also be concerned about climate change and want to see change towards low-carbon energy, either because that is what the public want, or because of personal conviction. Among businesses, large, energy-intensive users tend to lobby strongly against policies that increase energy costs, while other businesses may support transitions because they see opportunities for revenue in low-carbon products and services, and in owning renewable energy assets. Many policies for green transformation are essentially economic policies, involving taxes, subsidies and other forms of state or institutional support, so economic institutions are particularly important. The importance of context for policy feedback effects suggests that differences in speeds and paths of green transformation in different countries may be related to institutional diversity across countries.
