Renowned economist William Nordhaus has developed many innovative approaches for analyzing complex environmental questions. He applies them to the possible phaseout of nuclear power in Sweden in The Swedish Nuclear Dilemma: Energy and the Environment. While making a major contribution to that debate, this book has value that extends well beyond the Swedish issue, to the careful and well-informed consideration of environmental and energy questions that industrialized nations and developing regions now face. It is essential for anyone interested in nuclear-power issues and climate change. The Swedish parliament has moved closer to eliminating nuclear energy, even while repeating commitments to reduce the greenhouse-gas emissions associated with fossil fuels. Nordhaus's Swedish Energy and Environmental Policy (SEEP) model quantifies the economic results of such a path. He analyzes the impact of factors such as deregulation of electricity generation, global climate-change policies, the decline of Sweden's economic growth, and the rethinking of its welfare state. He also sets the stage for more informed analysis of similarly difficult issues where economic and environmental goals clash.

William D. Nordhaus is A. Whitney Griswold Professor of Economics at Yale University and the author of several books, including Managing the Global Commons. He is also coauthor with Paul Samuelson of Economics, entering its 16th edition.

Foreword
Paul R. Portney
Preface
Part I: Background
1. Introduction: The Swedish Dilemma
The Scope of the Study
2. Historical Background
A Brief Sketch of the Swedish Economy
The Swedish Electricity System
The Swedish Energy System in International Context
3. Issues To Be Considered
The Nuclear Debate and the Nuclear Referendum
The Interparty Agreement of 1991
Climate Change Policy
Deregulating the Electricity Market
Part II: Options and Impacts
4. Building Blocks
Supply and Demand Situations in 1990 and 2010
Impacts of Supply Reductions
5. The Swedish Energy and Environmental Policy (SEEP) Model
The Structure of the Model
Baseline Simulations
6. Nuclear Matters
Economic Aspects of Swedish Nuclear Power
The Tail End of the Nuclear Cycle
Safety of Nuclear Power
Estimates of External costs from Different Fuel Cycles
Costs of Additional Capacity in Different Fuel Cycles
7. Alternative Scenarios for Nuclear Power
Sources of Replacement Power
Major Options
Sensitivity Analyses
Electricity Prices
Impacts by Industry
Part III: The Future of Nuclear Power in Sweden
8. Resolving the Swedish Dilemma
Index