Learning to shield - Policy learning in socio-technical transitions

Wouter P C Boon*, Sjoerd Bakker

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

    19 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The dynamics of protection in the context of socio-technical niches have remained under-researched. In this paper we conceptualise the process of policy learning in the context of transitions. We show that a variety of actors inside and outside a technological niche have to learn about the implications and effects of regulations aimed at protection of niches. We analyse this process of policy learning in two cases: high-need drugs and electric vehicles. We conclude that both regulators and the regulated need to learn about the width and depth of protection measures, their duration, the specific set of tools used, and their legitimisation. A crucial issue of implementing protective regulation is the question on what level of aggregation protection measures need to be applied. Learning is often part of the negotiation process between the protector and the protected, but in many cases learning only takes place after policies have been implemented.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)181-200
    Number of pages20
    JournalEnvironmental Innovation and Societal Transitions
    Volume18
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2016

    Keywords

    • Electric vehicles
    • Learning
    • Niche
    • Pharmaceutical sector
    • Protective space
    • Regulation

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