Massey Documents by Type

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/294

Browse

Subject: search.filters.subject.Energy policy

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The energy-economic growth nexus : empirical evidence for New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Economics at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2007) Bartleet, Matthew Timothy
    This study addresses the energy consumption and energy price-economic growth nexus for the case of New Zealand. Several hypotheses concerning the impacts of energy consumption and oil price shocks on economic growth are empirically examined, as these issues have important policy implications that have received little attention in New Zealand. Utilising the Autoregressive Distributed Lag approach to cointegration, the energy consumption-economic growth relationship is analysed over the period 1960-2004. Two key approaches are followed in terms of a cointegration and causality framework to answer whether energy consumption is a stimulus for economic growth or if economic growth leads to energy consumption. The energy consumption-growth nexus are examined based on the theoretical arguments of the trivariate demand model, trivariate supply model and multivariate supply model. The results indicate that long run relationships exist between various sets of variables, i.e. energy consumption, energy prices, labour and capital. Given the central role of energy to New Zealand's domestic growth agenda as well as international climate change commitments, the estimated results provide a basis for policy prescriptions to deal with these issues for the short run and long run. The related issue of oil price shock impacts on economic growth is considered for the period 1989-2006 using the Vector Autoregressive methodology based on quarterly data. Three oil price measures are considered, given the various theoretical implications that oil price shocks have on economic growth. The estimated results are based on the concept of 'net oil price shocks', and indicate that such shocks impact significantly on several key macroeconomic variables in a manner that is consistent with the economic theory. The findings of this study provide policy implications based on the key elements of New Zealand's energy-growth relationships and energy policies, in light of energy scarcity, climate change issues, and the related policy responses.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    New Zealand's energy policy from the world system perspective : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1994) Debahasatin, Jutha
    The World-System Theory of Immanuel Wallerstein is a grand-scale theory that is useful as a framework to understand how New Zealand's path of development has been affected by the country's energy policy. The theory is appropriate in application to energy issues because its macro-level of analysis puts emphasis on both exogenous and endogenous factors. Its special emphasis on historical background and context also adds to an understanding of the New Zealand position. The World-System perspective offers three major concepts directly applicable to the case of New Zealand energy policy, namely, the interplay between politics and economics with a particular interest in the role of multinational corporations (MNCs) and the state, the notion of semiperiphery, and the cyclical nature of the world economy. During the period of the 1970s economic downturn marked by two oil crises, New Zealand as well as most other countries and the MNCs suffered a severe setback. However, while most core states, as well as some successful non-core states and the oil majors, could react appropriately to the crises and retain their potential for growth, the semiperipheral New Zealand could not. The country possessed few options because of her intermediate level of industrialisation and less competent state apparatus compared to the MNCs involved. Lacking the intention to promote local industrial capitalists, the New Zealand state chose wrong strategies, first Think Big and then disinvestment, which together have undermined the bargaining position of local entrepreneurs, over-committed the national hydrocarbon resource and disproportionately promoted the interest of the foreign oil corporations. The overall outcome of the energy policy is therefore detrimental to the country's development.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Environmental performance indicators for energy sector industry : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Applied Science in Natural Resource Management at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2000) Kissick, Joanne Terese
    Mounting evidence regarding the degradation of our environment and a growing sense of shared responsibility has provided the impetus to develop multilateral environmental agreements to address global environmental problems. Concerns regarding unsustainable energy consumption and production patterns have also underscored the need to improve environmental monitoring. This research provides an analysis of the role and status of environmental performance indicators for energy sector industry in New Zealand. The environmental indicators considered are those that are directly aligned to energy consumption and production patterns. In order to be able to identify and isolate the range of issues associated with energy consumption and production patterns, it is necessary to understand both the factors that influence energy use and the effects that arise. Factors that can be utilised as environmental indicators include, energy efficiency, energy intensity, energy fuel mixes and energy prices, and the carbon dioxide emissions associated with energy use. Much progress has been made at a national and international level in the development and use of environmental indicators for energy sector industry. The UN, OECD, and Natural Resources Canada all utilise the above-described environmental indicators to assess energy consumption and production patterns. This progress provides useful insight for the MfE in the development of their national energy indicators. The MfE's energy indicators when introduced will prove a fundamental monitoring tool for policy makers in New Zealand. Environmental indicators will enable policy makers at either a local, national or international level to be able to accurately monitor and evaluate the environmental consequences associated with energy consumption and production patterns (including those of energy sector industry). From this monitoring, policy makers will be able to assess the effectiveness of their environmental policy frameworks. In doing so, policy makers will avoid misinterpreting or inappropriately responding to their environmental policy frameworks or obligations.