Policy Brief 17 - Sam Bickersteth with Neil McCulloch and Meron Tesfamichael

Why the political economy of energy transitions? The challenges of climate change and development are driving many countries to rethink the ways in which they produce electrical power and deliver it to users. [...] Both the Head of State and the formal structure of political institutions are key in driving change In all three countries, the role of the Head of State is key to enabling the transition but not sufficient on its own. [...] In Vietnam, the relationship between the country’s richest man and owner of VinFast, Pham Nhat Vuong, and the prime minister may have a key impact on the nature of the electric vehicle transition in the country. [...] Plausible pathways of change A pathway of change refers to a description of how the desired outcome – a transition to green, reliable, accessible, affordable and fiscally sustainable electricity provision – might come about in a way that is consistent with the incentives, ideas and interests of the actors involved and what we know about the wider political economy. [...] The concept of a pathway of change is valuable because it forces us to consider how situations might plausibly evolve in the direction of the desired outcome as a result of the actions of other actors.