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Counting Regulatory Benefits and Costs: Lessons for the US and Europe

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  • Robert W. Hahn
  • Robert E. Litan

Abstract

This paper reviews the US and European experiences with regulatory oversight and the use of formal tools to analyze regulation. We conclude that the US and Europe have made some progress in improving regulatory analysis and oversight, but they can do much more. We offer six recommendations for improving the quality and transparency of regulatory oversight and analysis: three recommendations for the United States and three for Europe. For the US, we suggest that: 1) The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) apply its in-house expertise to evaluate the costs and benefits of regulations; 2) Congress pass a law requiring that all federal regulatory agencies submit annual cost and benefit estimates of major regulations to OMB; and 3) OMB issue a scorecard assessing the overall quality of regulation and ask the agencies to complete a scorecard for each major regulation. For Europe, we suggest that: 1) The European Union (EU) pass a directive specifying that the primary objective of regulation is to maximize net benefits; 2) The EU create a strong centralized regulatory oversight unit to help evaluate regulatory proposals; and 3) The EU, as well as each member state, create a structure that is balanced, which promotes efficient regulation and discourages inefficient or ineffective regulation. Copyright 2005, Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert W. Hahn & Robert E. Litan, 2005. "Counting Regulatory Benefits and Costs: Lessons for the US and Europe," Journal of International Economic Law, Oxford University Press, vol. 8(2), pages 473-508, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:jieclw:v:8:y:2005:i:2:p:473-508
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Djankov, Simeon & Luksic, Igor & Zhang, Eva, 2022. "Technology as deregulation," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 118882, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Jacopo Torriti, 2010. "Impact Assessment and the Liberalization of the EU Energy Markets: Evidence‐Based Policy‐Making or Policy‐Based Evidence‐Making?," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(4), pages 1065-1081, September.
    3. Jacopo Torriti, 2010. "Impact Assessment and the Liberalization of the EU Energy Markets: Evidence-Based Policy-Making or Policy-Based Evidence-Making?," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48, pages 1065-1081, September.
    4. Beat Bernet, 2005. "Towards an Economic Analysis of Financial Markets Regulation?," Financial Markets and Portfolio Management, Springer;Swiss Society for Financial Market Research, vol. 19(3), pages 313-322, October.
    5. Ellig, Jerry, 2016. "Evaluating the Quality and Use of Regulatory Impact Analysis: The Mercatus Center’s Regulatory Report Card, 2008–2013," Working Papers 06878, George Mason University, Mercatus Center.
    6. Cave, Jonathan & Gibson, Stephen, 2023. "Primary and secondary legislation – assessing the impacts of rules for making rules," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1486, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
    7. Claire A. Dunlop & Martino Maggetti & Claudio M. Radaelli & Duncan Russel, 2012. "The many uses of regulatory impact assessment: A meta‐analysis of EU and UK cases," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 6(1), pages 23-45, March.
    8. Oana - Catalina Tapurica & Florin TACHE, 2011. "Quantifying Social Objectives Aiming Pollution Control – An Economic Perspective Upon Strategic Management And Project Management," Review of General Management, Spiru Haret University, Faculty of Management Brasov, vol. 14(2), pages 130-138, November.
    9. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/8309 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Nyborg, Karine, 2014. "Project evaluation with democratic decision-making: What does cost–benefit analysis really measure?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 124-131.
    11. Patrick Messerlin, 2006. "Europe after the 'no' votes : mapping a new economic path," Post-Print hal-00973109, HAL.
    12. Patrick Messerlin, 2004. "Problems of transposition and Members States "screening" process and timetable," Working Papers hal-00973081, HAL.
    13. Jerry Ellig & Patrick A. McLaughlin, 2012. "The Quality and Use of Regulatory Analysis in 2008," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(5), pages 855-880, May.
    14. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/8324 is not listed on IDEAS
    15. Laura Cavallo & Giuseppe Coco & Mario Martelli, 2009. "Evaluating administrative burdens through SCM: some indications from the Italian experience," SERIES 0023, Dipartimento di Economia e Finanza - Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", revised Apr 2009.
    16. Patrick Messerlin, 2004. "Problems of transposition and Members States “screening” process and timetable," Sciences Po publications info:hdl:2441/8324, Sciences Po.
    17. Patrick Messerlin, 2006. "Europe after the 'no' votes : mapping a new economic path : thirty-fifth Wincott Lecture, 3 October 2005," Sciences Po publications info:hdl:2441/8309, Sciences Po.
    18. Patrick A. McLaughlin & Casey B. Mulligan, 2020. "Three Myths about Federal Regulation," NBER Working Papers 27233, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    19. Stuart Shapiro, 2011. "Defragmenting the Regulatory Process," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(6), pages 893-901, June.

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