Electrifying Success?

摘要

Liberalization of the UK electricity sector beginning in the 1990s restructured the market by privatizing assets and reforming regula- tions. The goal was to improve the efficiency of the industry by increasing competition. Jamasb and Pollitt have now analyzed the impact on UK patenting activity and R&D investment in the electricity sector. They noted that whereas government R&D investment had already been declining, this trend was amplified after liberalization, although some increase has been seen in recent years, particularly in renewable energy. Private R&D also diminished after liberalization.