by Raphael J. Heffron

New economic thinking is needed in the UK energy sector. The mainstream economic approach to the electricity sector needs to be radically altered, and two new approaches are discussed in this article. The first focuses on restructuring the electricity market, and the second on achieving parity for low carbon energy sources in terms of subsidies received in comparison to the oil and gas sector.

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by Mark Goodwin

The global financial crisis has resulted in much soul-searching for economists. The discipline has been challenged to revisit its most fundamental principles and practices in the light of the crash. As a result, increasing pressure is being put on economics to modify its teaching curricula and research priorities. Yet in the field of policy advice, it is less clear that the dominance of pre-crash economics is being reconsidered. Developments in rival disciplines in the behavioural and neurological sciences may present a greater threat to the continued dominance of economics than any inherent failings.

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by Claire Weiller

Claire’s research focuses on how new business models can help overcome the obstacles typically presented by electric vehicles, including high battery costs, current range limitation, and the lack of infrastructure. The piece highlights the fact that much remains unknown about what business models will look like in future. Will customers even own their batteries? How will companies make money from these systems beyond selling cars? What are the opportunities for electric vehicles to be connected to the electricity grid? Claire discusses these issues which are central to her PhD research.

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by Joe Gladstone

Joe asks what are the primary levers available to encourage innovative ideas and behaviours from public sector employees? To answer this, he outlines evidence from behavioural science which suggests that to encourage innovative and creative performance managers must look beyond financial incentives, as monetary rewards may in fact have a negative impact on innovative and creative behaviours. Joe draws upon evidence from psychologists and neuroscientists, and argues that classical economic principles of reward through financial incentives break down when dealing with more complex and creative tasks.

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by Stephen F. Ashley

What stops rogue states or terrorists from acquiring the materials for a nuclear bomb? Stephen explores the different barriers, from material to technological, and describes the categorisation of these barriers from a scientific perspective. He discusses the resistance of technologies to proliferation, raising the issue that such definitions are unknown in novel fuel technologies of the future. Anyone who has ever been kept awake at night wondering whether Plutonium or Uranium is easier to weaponise should read this piece.

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