Regulatory system. It seems such a benign term that it hardly warrants attention. Or does it? The term was used over 1,300 times in New Zealand newspapers since the year 2000.[1] Among the more expressive uses are the following headlines: “Commission slams regulatory system” (Waikato Times, 14 March 2014)“Report a damning indictment of regulatory system” … Continue reading Systems thinking and regulatory governance (1): A review of the international academic literature
Category: Research
Risk governance and risk-based regulation review: Now available as open access paper
In regulatory governance and regulatory practice, ‘risk’ is probably one of the topics most talked about and least understood. The notion of risk is like the notion of time or happiness: we all know perfectly well what it is, until we try to explain it to others (or to ourselves, for that matter). Risk is … Continue reading Risk governance and risk-based regulation review: Now available as open access paper
Risk governance and risk-based regulation(6): Epistemic and ethical challenges
We are nearing the end of this series of blog posts on risk governance and risk-based regulation. It builds on a systematic review of over 150 academic publications published between 2009 and 2018. The aim of the series is to introduce those working in a regulatory environment to the key concepts of risk governance and … Continue reading Risk governance and risk-based regulation(6): Epistemic and ethical challenges
Risk governance and risk-based regulation(5): Evidence of the performance of risk governance and risk-based regulation
Now that we have a better understanding of the foundations of risk governance and risk-based regulation and have looked at some examples of its application, it is time to ask the hard question: does it work? Answering that question is all but easy. By and large the debate of risk governance and risk-based regulation is … Continue reading Risk governance and risk-based regulation(5): Evidence of the performance of risk governance and risk-based regulation
Risk governance and risk-based regulation(4): Frameworks for high-occurrence/low-impact risks, the precautionary principle, and benefit-cost analyses
In the previous blog post, I have addressed the holistic framework of the International Risk Governance Council (IRGC) as a blueprint for regulators interested in this approach to regulation, or as a check-list for those who already have risk governance in place. Here I discuss frameworks that focus on high-occurrence but low-impact risks; and, frameworks … Continue reading Risk governance and risk-based regulation(4): Frameworks for high-occurrence/low-impact risks, the precautionary principle, and benefit-cost analyses
Risk governance and risk-based regulation(3): The International Risk Governance Council Framework
Inspired by the insights from risk studies, governments around the world have begun to develop and implement risk governance and risk-based regulation. Following these developments, scholars have begun to map, explore and interrogate risk governance models and strategies, risk-based regulatory approaches and instruments, and their performance. There appears no area where governments have not trialled … Continue reading Risk governance and risk-based regulation(3): The International Risk Governance Council Framework
Risk governance and risk-based regulation(2): The evolution of risk
It is safe to say that humankind has always been subject to risk. For long, however, humans have considered risk along the lines of fate and determinism. Our ancient ancestors thought of risk as something they could not influence. Their future was either set in stone, regulated by the forces of nature, or regulated by … Continue reading Risk governance and risk-based regulation(2): The evolution of risk
