Regulatory and social dynamics of voluntary agreement adoption: The case of voluntary energy efficiency and GHG reduction agreement in South Korea

Abstract

What are the forces that drive increasing adoption of voluntary agreements in the policy field? This paper attempts to answer the question by analyzing the mechanism behind the adoption by 877 entities of the voluntary energy efficiency and GHG reduction agreement (VA) that was in place between 1999 and 2010 in South Korea. We argue that in South Korea's distinct regulatory context, participation in a public voluntary program (PVP), a VA, is a manifestation of participant entities' varied motivations as well as regulatory and social-normative pressures that arise from the institutionalization of the VA program. In addition, aligning the PVP with other policy programs such as eco-labelling program was found to have provided additional incentives for adoption while public ownership, socioeconomic status and environmental management capacity of targeted entities were significant factors. Thus, this study analyzes changes in the motives of participant entities over the course of the program's maturation and demonstrates how government and industries adopt and manage a PVP for policy learning and strategic regulation in the area of energy efficiency management and GHG reduction.