Justification

The economic development of natural resources has been accompanied by the involvement of the State in a variety of roles. The scale of this involvement has differed from country to country and within some countries over time. There have been periods when the nationalisation of extractive industries has been advocated and other periods when arguments have favoured privatisation or a lessening of State control and influence. Similarly, in many states energy has been delivered through heavy State involvement, whereas in other cases there has been a reliance on the private sector. All of these discussions have been accompanied by a debate concerning the appropriate level and methods and regulation. There is a continuing need to investigate the responsibilities, powers and capabilities of government (broadly defined). There appears to exist a variety of experience without a dominant conclusion.