Institutional and Structural Determinants of Nuclear Energy Development: A Comparative Analysis of 38 Countries

This study examines why national trajectories of nuclear energy development diverge by integrating institutional, socioeconomic, and energy-structural factors into a unified analytical framework. Whereas prior research has typically emphasized economic or technological determinants, the influence of governance quality, institutional maturity, and policy stability remains insufficiently explored. Drawing on an original multilevel dataset that combines reactor-level technical characteristics with national indicators for 38 nuclear-operating countries, the study employs a comparative structural approach to identify global patterns and the underlying determinants of nuclear deployment. The analysis reveals two foundational dimensions—socioeconomic-institutional development and energy-industrialization dynamics—that systematically shape national nuclear pathways. Governance capacity emerges as a consistently significant factor supporting operational continuity, investment durability, and the long-term sustainability of nuclear programs. These findings underscore the central role of institutional conditions in nuclear policy and offer implications for energy security, transition strategies, and governance frameworks for next-generation nuclear technologies in a rapidly decarbonizing global energy landscape.