The case of coal in China’s energy policy

The case of coal in China’s energy policy is interesting because it is a sector that has enjoyed significant free market liberalization and privatization at the nascent stage the country’s economic expansion. Then, over the past 30 years, it once again became subject to a variety of policies, from heavy handed state intervention and asset seizure to regionally controlled free markets with strong government regulations. Consequently we will look at the evolution of China’s coal sector through the policy analysis lens: China’s modern-era coal sector policy and regulation paradigms can roughly be divided into three phases: 1) Phase of laissez-faire […]