In this paper, Andrew Davies and Edward Mortimer look at Australia's energy security. Energy is the lifeblood of modern economies. The correlation between energy consumption and prosperity is strong—and that's unlikely to change. Those simple observations have some profound implications. Australia, like all modern economies, needs an assured supply of energy to function effectively. As...

This paper documents an energy ladder that nations ascend as their per capita incomes increase. On average, economic development results in an overall substitution from the use of biomass to fulfill energy needs to energy sourced from fossil fuels, and then toward nuclear power and certain low-carbon modern renewables such as wind power. The results...

Given the urgency and the magnitude of emission cuts required to arrest the global temperature rise at an acceptable level (like 2 degrees Celsius), it is imperative that action to mitigate climate change is taken at the lowest cost. This can be done if a cost effective set of policy tools with a focus on...

The use of economic analysis in environmental and resource policy issues A number of current policy debates in Australia revolve around natural resource and environmental management issues. In many cases these issues have come to public attention through the efforts of special interest groups. Once such issues are accepted in the political process as requiring...

This report presents a detailed analysis of 'fair price' for exports from residential solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems. The NSW Solar Bonus Scheme provided strong support for the uptake of small scale PV systems through a gross feed-in tariff of around 60 c/kWh, reduced to 20 c/kWh in October 2010. Rapid uptake of small scale rooftop...