Biofuels in the European Union: A multi-level analysis

This dissertation examines the factors influencing policy tool decisions in response to a European Union directive regarding the use of biofuels for transport. This study provides a comparative analysis of twenty-five nations during the first four years of implementation (2004--2007). A typology and descriptive analysis of the policy tools employed by each nation is presented. In addition, a multi-level analysis is conducted to discern the effects of specific variables on both the diversity of policy tools chosen and individual policy decisions.;Tool diversity is measured as the number of tool types implemented each year by the individual nation. The analytical model focuses on six constructs: international obligations, institutional factors, energy capacity, external interaction with industry, academia, and community groups; prior commitment to biofuels use, and social factors. The primary data were yielded from ninety-five national annual reports submitted to the European Commission.;The findings reveal several patterns of policy adoption. Over time, tool diversity increased, and certain tool types demonstrated distinct patterns of adoption. The results of the multi-level analysis show prior commitment and external interaction to be positive and significant predictors of tool diversity. Time is also a consistent and significant determinant of tool diversity and adoption of certain tool types. The second phase reveals relationships between other independent variables and individual tool types that are obscured in the diversity model.;The findings have several implications for policy tools and policy learning. First, certain variables have stronger relationships to particular tool types. Second, the significance of prior commitment demonstrates to the potential for accumulated knowledge to lead to policy innovations. Third, external interaction with varied groups leads to the adoption of a greater diversity of tools. This finding points to the rising significance of networks in governance. Additional research is needed to understand how policy networks influence both the range of policy options considered and subsequent policy decisions.