Energy Seminar: Unilateral Policies: Implications for Growth and Competitiveness

Introduction

A number of energy policy questions, in many countries, are often discussed in terms of the impact on domestic industry competitiveness.  These include the question of cheap and plentiful gas in the USA – will exports be allowed, or will it be retained to “boost competitiveness” ?   In Europe, will unilateral policies on CO₂ emissions damage EU or UK industries ?  How do Middle Eastern countries approach these issues?  And what does the chequered history of energy subsidies tell us, from aluminium smelting in the UK to underpriced fuel in Eastern Europe.

Chris Allsopp, CBE, Director of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, and former member of the Monetary Policy Committee,  introduced the subject.