The Shale Dilemma: A Global Perspective on Fracking & Shale Development

Abstract

Ten papers and case studies explore the decision of the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland, China, and Argentina to pursue shale development and France and Germany's decision not to pursue shale development. Papers discuss the risks and rewards of developing shale gas; the political battles over local government powers, taxation, regulation, and disclosure; the United Kingdom and the debate over shale development; energy security versus bureaucracy and geology in Poland; the power of public opposition in France; the German Energiewende and the decision to ban unconventional hydraulic fracturing; replacing coal with shale gas in China; energy extraction and communities in Argentina; whether shale gas development and broad-based economic development are compatible in South Africa; and how and why countries decide on shale and how they can make better decisions. Gamper-Rabindran is an associate professor in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and the Department of Economics at the University of Pittsburgh. Index.