Thesis Proposal - Mara Balasa

On the 22nd of May I presented my thesis proposal. Then, I outlined and motivated the four studies I plan to conduct as part of my PhD, which are united under the umbrella of industrial policy within the clean energy transition.

This present-day return of industrial policy is puzzling given its tainted reputation and the lack of consensus in terms of its implementation, tools, and success potential. Clarity is also limited around the magnitude of the green transition costs and the role of state capacity, especially in an Eastern European setting. Therefore, my thesis alleviates this by studying the aims of contemporary industrial policy, strategies employed by Romania to drive forward the green transition, as well as costs associated with the decarbonisation of steelmaking.

I aim to join the discussion on green industrial policy with my thesis. The conceptual contribution from the first two papers is matched by an empirical one in the last two studies. My results will thus contribute to both theory development and policymaking. 

The overall theme and the individual paper ideas have been supported by the audience. I am incredibly grateful for the support I have received from my supervisors, Örjan Sjöberg and Rikard Westerberg, as well as for the constructive feedback from the discussant, Christian Sandström, and from all the seminar participants.