Paul Tempest Energy economics is, in national policy, a vital point of inter- section where Government, industry, finance, research and many other interests meet. In Britain, it is not a recognised profession or academic discipline in its own right. Perhaps it is part of our national style and heritage that it never should be so compartmentalised. Indeed, energy economics is an interest which cannot easily be con- strained within even national boundanes: international energy mar- kets impinge everywhere through external demand, supply and price affecting profoundly every aspect of the economy. THE BRITISH INSTITUTE OF ENERGY ECONOMICS Over the last few years, an increasing need has been widely perceived for free and open discussion of the major energy and eco- nomic issues of the day. Easy communication and the joint imple- mentation of technological progress seem, worldwide, the safest route to resolving national and international problems. Such co- operation and interchange also bring into the light national and local political myopia, bureaucratic inertia, academic dogma and the dis- tortions of an imperfect market system.