Abstract
With the plethora of smart mobility innovations, their applications, and
their pace of change, it is easy to get distracted by what these innovations
can (potentially) do, rather than what we want or need them to do, if
we are to meet our societal goals. The focus of this chapter is therefore on
the extent to which smart mobility can help create policy change towards
the goal of low carbon mobility. The concept of policy is broken down
into its component parts, to outline the relationship between policy goals
and policy instruments, and identifies the key tools underpinning policy
instruments. In turn, the chapter situates policy instruments within an
understanding of policy change and triggers for policy change, arguing there
are two key ways in which transformative change can occur; exogenously
and endogenously. The chapter argues that the onset of smart mobility does
not suggest an exogenous shock to the current policy system, in which smart
mobility disrupts the authority and beliefs inherent within the current policy
approach to mobility. Smart mobility therefore in and of itself is unlikely to
lead to a radical policy shift towards low carbon. However, in understanding
smart mobility innovations as policy instruments, it is possible to envisage
smart mobility incrementally changing policy towards low carbon mobility,
if opportunities for reflexivity and learning are embedded within local policy
contexts.
their pace of change, it is easy to get distracted by what these innovations
can (potentially) do, rather than what we want or need them to do, if
we are to meet our societal goals. The focus of this chapter is therefore on
the extent to which smart mobility can help create policy change towards
the goal of low carbon mobility. The concept of policy is broken down
into its component parts, to outline the relationship between policy goals
and policy instruments, and identifies the key tools underpinning policy
instruments. In turn, the chapter situates policy instruments within an
understanding of policy change and triggers for policy change, arguing there
are two key ways in which transformative change can occur; exogenously
and endogenously. The chapter argues that the onset of smart mobility does
not suggest an exogenous shock to the current policy system, in which smart
mobility disrupts the authority and beliefs inherent within the current policy
approach to mobility. Smart mobility therefore in and of itself is unlikely to
lead to a radical policy shift towards low carbon. However, in understanding
smart mobility innovations as policy instruments, it is possible to envisage
smart mobility incrementally changing policy towards low carbon mobility,
if opportunities for reflexivity and learning are embedded within local policy
contexts.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Shaping Smart Mobility Futures |
Subtitle of host publication | Governance and Policy Instruments in Times of Sustainability Transitions |
Editors | Alexander Paulsson, Claus Sorensen |
Publisher | Emerald Group Publishing Ltd. |
Chapter | 8 |
Pages | 139-154 |
ISBN (Print) | 978-1-83982-651-1 |
Publication status | Published - 2020 |