Governing complex societal problems: The impact of private on public regulation through technological change
Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: When addressing complex societal problems, public regulation is increasingly complemented by private regulation. Extant literature has provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of such complex governance structures, with most empirical studies focusing on how public regulation influences private regulation. Conversely, the impact of private on public regulation is less well studied. Here, we investigate this impact with a focus on technological change as possible mechanism. Based on a case study of energy efficiency in buildings in Switzerland, we find evidence of a symbiotic interaction between public and private regulation that leads to ratcheting-up of regulatory stringency. We identify technological change as the mechanism linking private and public regulation. We discuss the relevance of our findings for governance literature and regulators.
Source: Regulation & Governance
DOI: 10.1111/rego.12314
Institution: ETH Zurich
Language: English
Subfield: Strategy and Management
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,000
Funders: National Science Foundation, European Commission, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Innosuisse - Schweizerische Agentur für Innovationsförderung, University of California, Santa Barbara, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation
OpenAlex ID: W3021841970