Regulation

What kinds of regulation are best to address different types of problems? How do we design regulatory mechanisms and how do we ensure their effectiveness? How can firms and individuals be encouraged or forced to follow regulatory standards?

As our world becomes technologically and socially complex and the environment, human rights, and human well-being face increasing strains, strong regulatory systems at both national and international levels play a fundamental role. Although certain extreme free market proponents believe markets suffice to steer our global society, there is little reason to believe that progress on resolving difficult global problems—from the environment, human rights, labor, organized crime and corruption, to climate change—can happen without effective regulation at all levels. Companies do not willingly change practices without strong governmental action and most consumers won’t voluntarily change behavior to avoid actions that cause social and environmental harm.

My interest in regulation as a topic of research was due to practical necessity. Early in my career, working for international NGOs on efforts to promote international labor and anticorruption standards, I needed to understand the conditions and dynamics that would enable success. Understanding the basis for effective regulation was critical to designing the systems and implementing them.

Related Publications

Regulation before Responsibility: The Limits of Voluntary Corporate Social Responsibility
40 Cornell International Law Journal 171 (2007). 

Towards the Next Phase in International Banking Regulation
7 DePaul Business Law Journal 143 (1994). 

Relevant Projects

⇥ Tobacco Control

⇥ Environment

⇥ Voluntary Tenure Guidelines

⇥ Small Scale Fisheries

Courses

⇥ Strengthening Regulatory Systems