2023/07/20 by Jonas Meckling, Nicholas Goedeking · 1 voice · 2 citations
Environmental Science · Social Sciences · #Policy Transfer and Learning #Social Policy and Reform Studies #Sustainability and Climate Change Governance
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/psj.12507
openalex publication_date 2023/07/20 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/27
Abstract Policy change often involves multiple policy subsystems, as in the case of clean energy transitions. We argue that trans‐subsystem policy feedback is a central dynamic in policy change across subsystems. Policy in one subsystem creates benefits/costs and/or learning effects that mobilize actors for policy change in another subsystem, resulting in “coalition cascades” across interdependent subsystems. If coalition cascades lead to the resolution of coordination problems across subsystems, the system reaches a tipping point in policy change. Coalition cascades are thus the transmission belts of trans‐subsystem policy feedback. We illustrate our argument in the case of California's clean energy transition. We show how early renewable energy policy spilled over into the subsystems on grid policy—leading to energy storage policy—and on transport policy—resulting in electric vehicle charging policy. The article advances our understanding of the mechanisms underpinning trans‐subsystem policy change, offering a model of the politics of tipping points.