The neglect of socioeconomic research by U.S. energy and environmental agencies

Abstract

The published published research research plans plans of of the the US US Environmental Environmental Protection Protection Agency Agency (EPA) (EPA) and and the the US US Energy Energy Research Research and and Development Development Administration Administration (ERDA) (ERDA) have have each each been been criticized criticized by by the the Office Office of of Technology Technology Assessment Assessment for for focusing focusing largely largely on on the the development development of of technological technological "hardware" and and giving giving little little attention attention to to socioeconomic socioeconomic research research (broadly (broadly defined). defined). This This paper paper first first examines examines "hardware" socioeconomic socioeconomic research research areas areas that that EPA EPA might might be be expec ted ted to to cover, cover, and and shows shows that that its its plans plans for for doing doing so so are are inadequate. inadequate. The The paper paper then then identifies identifies gaps gaps in in ERDA ERDA's S coverage coverage of of socioeconomic socioeconomic research research that that remain remain unfilled unfilled even even in in the the agency's agency S updated updated plan. plan. Several Several reasons reasons for for this this neglect neglect of of socioeconomic socioeconomic research research are are hypothesized, hypothesized, namely: namely: the the dominance dominance of of research research management management by by scientists scientists technologists; the the apparent apparent irrelevance irrelevance expecand and technologists,' and/or and/or lack lack per-of of success success of of socioeconomic socioeconomic research research per past; formed formed in in the the pasti the the greater greater political political acceptability acceptability of of technological technological compared compared with with non-technological non-technological ap-ap proaches proaches to to pollution pollution control: control: the the public's public's apparent apparent faith faith in in our our ability ability to to develop develop technological technological solutions solutions to to energy energy and and environmental environmental problems,• and and the the compatibil ity ity of of new new technology technology development development with with economic economic growth. growth. Following Following a a discussion discussion of of these these reasons, reasons, it it is is concluded concluded that that senior senior management management positions positions in in both both agencies agencies must must no no longer longer be be monopolized monopolized by by those those with with solely solely scientific scientific and and technical technical backgrounds; instead, instead, problems; compatibilbackgrounds,' appro-managers managers should should be be appointed appointed who who not not only only have have appro priate social social science science or or professional professional qualifications qualifications but but are are also also able able to to communicate communicate to to law-...