The California Zero-Emission Vehicle Mandate: A Study of the Policy Process, 1990-2004

This dissertation research is concerned with the study of the policy process over the Zero-Emission Vehicle mandate, from its conception, through its inception, and the biennial reviews, until 2004. The study is structured as three core chapters. The first chapter studies the origin of the ZEV mandate, trying to understand the conditions that favored and the factors that resulted in its implementation. The Multiple Streams theoretical framework is used to guide the study. The second chapter presents an empirical study of the policy process during the biennial reviews. Using the Advocacy Coalition Framework to frame the study in this chapter theoretically, it aims at understanding the dynamics of policy change and coalition stability, and identifying the policy dimensions that dominated the debate over time. The third chapter presents a theoretical study of the strategic policy behavior of the main actors in the policy process. A game-theoretical model is developed of an environmental regulator (California Air Resources Board - CARB) that needs to set emission standards in the presence of multiple industry players (automakers), who in turn need to decide on their level of compliance in the presence of a competitor. The model presented improves over previous published work in the subject. The model of strategic behavior indiacates that the competitiveness of the auto industry tends to preclude collusion. The regulator may use this industry competitiveness to its advantage and achieve higher social benefits.

Language

  • English

Media Info

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01147390
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
  • Report/Paper Numbers: UCD-ITS-RR-06-09
  • Files: BTRIS, TRIS
  • Created Date: Dec 29 2009 9:29AM