Regulatory management practices in OECD countries

Abstract

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Explaining regulatory autonomy in EU network sectors: Varieties of utility regulation?

“…Initially expected to be a temporary solution for utility markets characterized by imperfect competition, sector-specific IRAs are now a global norm of economic governance (Jordana, Levi-Faur, & i Marin, 2011). We maintain that regulatory autonomy (or "functional independence" Lavrijssen & Ottow, 2012, p. 428)-that is, the set of competencies formally granted to regulators (and specified in regulatory agencies' mandates, Koske et al, 2016) and the decision-making independence in applying granted competencies-has been so far not fully explored by the regulatory governance literature.…”

“…The privatization of the network industries (electricity, gas, railways, and telecommunications) was accompanied by the establishment of independent regulators to supervise and monitor those markets until effective competition can be achieved. We maintain that regulatory autonomy (or "functional independence" Lavrijssen & Ottow, 2012, p. 428)-that is, the set of competencies formally granted to regulators (and specified in regulatory agencies' mandates, Koske et al, 2016) and the decision-making independence in applying granted competencies-has been so far not fully explored by the regulatory governance literature. We maintain that regulatory autonomy (or "functional independence" Lavrijssen & Ottow, 2012, p. 428)-that is, the set of competencies formally granted to regulators (and specified in regulatory agencies' mandates, Koske et al, 2016) and the decision-making independence in applying granted competencies-has been so far not fully explored by the regulatory governance literature.…”

“…This methodological gap has been reduced by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (Koske et al, 2016). Based on a 2013 survey, the OECD measures the "scope of action" of regulators supervising utility networks.…”

“…The dependent variable, regulatory autonomy, is operationalized by an index on the scope of action of sector regulators of the OECD's data set on regulatory management practices (Koske et al, 2016). The index is based on a recent survey of national regulatory authorities displaying data for the year 2013.…”

“…Regulatory autonomy is measured by the variable scope of action of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's data set on regulatory management practices (Koske, Naru, Beiter, & Wanner, 2016, see Table A1 in the Appendix). Regulatory autonomy is measured by the variable scope of action of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's data set on regulatory management practices (Koske, Naru, Beiter, & Wanner, 2016, see Table A1 in the Appendix).…”