Regulatory Quality in Europe: Concepts, Measures and Policy Processes (European Policy Studies)

The European Union and its member states are investing in ambitious programmes for ‘better regulation'and targets of regulatory quality. This book, available in paperback for the first time, lifts the veil of excessively optimistic propositions covering the whole better regulation agenda. It provides an innovative conceptual framework to handle the political complexity of regulatory governance. It approaches better regulation as an emerging public policy, with its own political context, actors, problems, rules of interaction, instruments, activities and impacts. Focusing on the key tools of impact assessment, consultation, simplification, and access to legislation, the authors provide fresh empirical evidence on the progress made in the member states and in Brussels, drawing on an extensive research project and an original survey of directors of better regulation programmes in Europe. Radaelli and De Francesco show how indicators define, measure, and appraise better regulation policy, linking measures to policy processes in which the stakeholders learn by monitoring. Although better regulation is a top priority for competitiveness in Europe and the legitimacy of EU policy, the level of commitment and the development of tools vary considerably. The major challenge for better regulation is institutionalisation - this calls for clear choices in terms of what the EU wants from better regulation.Essential reading for academics (political scientists, lawyers, and public economists) and policy-makers in charge of regulatory reforms in governments and international organisations. The European Union and its member states are investing in ambitious programmes for 'better regulation' and targets of regulatory quality. This book, available in paperback for the first time, lifts the veil of excessively optimistic propositions covering the whole better regulation agenda. It provides an innovative conceptual framework to handle the political complexity of regulatory governance. It approaches better regulation as an emerging public policy, with its own political context, actors, problems, rules of interaction, instruments, activities and impacts. Focusing on the key tools of impact assessment, consultation, simplification and access to legislation, the authors provide fresh empirical evidence on the progress made in the member states and in Brussels, drawing on an extensive research project and an original survey of directors of better regulation programmes in Europe. Radaelli and De Francesco show how indicators define, measure, and appraise better regulation policy, linking measures to policy processes in which the stakeholders learn by monitoring. Although better regulation is a top priority for competitiveness in Europe and the legitimacy of E.U. policy, the level of commitment and the development of tools vary considerably. The major challenge for better regulation is institutionalisation—this calls for clear choices in terms of what the E.U. wants from better regulation. Essential reading for academics (political scientists, lawyers and public economists) and policy-makers in charge of regulatory reforms in governments and international organisations Contents List of tables, boxes and figures Acknowledgements List of abbreviations Introduction 1 Appraising regulatory policy 2 Defining quality 3 How indicators perform: a review of the literature 4 Measuring the performance of better regulation policies: the cross-national experience 5 The results of the questionnaire 6 The state of play in the EU 7 Better regulation indicators 8 Conclusion Appendixes 1 Questionnaire – measuring regulatory quality 2 System 1. Indicators for the quality of the process 3 System 2. Indicators for internal evaluation 4 System 3. Indicators for external evaluation References Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W

the European Union And Its Member States Are Investing In Ambitious Programmes For 'better Regulation' And Targets Of Regulatory Quality. This Book Lifts The Veil Of Excessively Optimistic Propositions Covering The Whole Better Regulation Agenda. It Provides An Innovative Conceptual Framework To Handle The Political Complexity Of Regulatory Governance. It Approaches Better Regulation As An Emerging Public Policy, With Its Own Political Context, Actors, Problems, Rules Of Interaction, Instruments, Activities And Impacts.

This book focuses on the capacity of European governments and the EU institutions to deliver high quality regulation. Drawing on comprehensive research and an original survey, it shows how regulatory quality can be measured and appraised - thus appealing both to academics and to policy-makers involved in major regulatory reforms. -- . Providing an innovative conceptual framework to handle the political complexity of regulatory governancy, this work considers better regulation as an emerging public policy, with its own political context, actors, problems, rules of interaction, instruments, activities and impacts