Understanding Regulation: Theory, Strategy, and Practice

Regulation is a key concern of industries, consumers, citizens, and governments alike. Building on the success of the first edition, Understanding Regulation, Second Edition provides the reader with an introduction to key debates and discussions in the field of regulation from a number of disciplinary perspectives, looking towards law, economics, business, political science, sociology, and social administration.

The book has been extensively revised and updated to take into account the significant developments and events of the past decade. Containing several new chapters, it has been completely restructured into seven parts, covering: the fundamental issues regarding regulation; different types of regulatory strategies; rules and enforcement; quality and evaluation; regulation at different levels of government; network issues; and concluding thoughts.

Drawing on cross-sectoral and cross-national examples, this book reviews the central questions of regulation, and reflects upon those contentious issues that affect the design and operation of regulatory institutions. Amongst other topics, it discusses "better regulation," enforcement, self-regulation, risk regulation, cost-benefit analysis, and more utility regulation-oriented topics, such as price-setting. It will be an essential resource for academics, researchers, and graduates across the social sciences studying regulation.

Robert Baldwin is a Professor of Law at the LSE where he teaches Regulation and Criminal Law at undergraduate and graduate levels. He has published widely on regulation and has broad consultancy experience in regulation. His previous books include The Government of Risk (Oxford University Press, 2001 with Christopher Hood and Henry Rothstein). He is the Director of the LSE Short Course on Regulation.

Martin Cave is BP Centennial Professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science for 2010-11. He was a member of the U.K. Competition Commission from 1996-2002. He has authored numerous works on economic regulation, and has very extensive experience of advising regulatory agencies such as Ofcom, OFWAT, the Office of Fair Trading, international institutions such as the European Commission and the OECD, and governments in several countries.

Martin Lodge is Reader in Political Science and Public Policy at the LSE. His research and teaching interests are in the comparative study of Executive Government and Regulation.