THE REGULATORY FRICTION INDEX (RFI): A Quantitative Instrument for Measuring Administrative Processing Time Relative to Technical Deployment Time in Service Registration Systems
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This paper introduces the Regulatory Friction Index (RFI) — a first-generation quantitativeinstrument for measuring the ratio of administrative processing time to technical deployment timein service registration systems. Drawing on transaction cost theory (Coase, 1937; Williamson,1985), the RFI is designed as a comparable, replicable, and longitudinally trackable metric forinstitutional performance assessment across jurisdictions and sectors.The paper presents the formal definition, operationalization guidelines for both components(T_adm and T_tech), an interpretation framework with four threshold values, a compositeextension incorporating an Institutional Opacity Index (IOI), and illustrative calculations acrossfive sectors. The RFI is introduced as a first-generation heuristic indicator intended forcomparative testing; sector-specific adjustments and empirical validation are identified as nextsteps for framework development. This is Article 2 of the Instrumental Atavism Research Series, building on Minoretskii (2026a). This research is developed within the framework of the pan-European SMINORA EcoTech initiative (EU Funding & Tenders Portal, Participant Identification Code: PIC 863672384).
Author: MINORETSKII, Rustam
Language: English
Subfield: Strategy and Management
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7167286601
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