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Exploring the Use of Systems Thinking to Describe and Assess the UK’s Postal Market, with an Example for Its Application

In: Postal Strategies in a Digital and Green Transition

Author

Listed:
  • Matthew R. Thomas

    (Ofcom)

  • David Levitt

    (Ofcom)

Abstract

Systems thinking is a way of describing and illustrating complex problems with many components and interrelationships in a way that can (a) be understood quickly by a wide range of experts; (b) be used to identify and isolate particular areas of the problem space to make them more tractable (using control theory, for example); and (c) be used to understand the potential consequences of any interventions. The overall aim of the paper is to apply and to promote the use of systems thinking to policymaking. To do this, the paper gives a background to systems theory and provides a simple practical example to show how it can be applied to the UK postal market, drawing out both the benefits and limitations of the approach. The paper then looks at how system theory could be extended into other areas, how it is useful for other national regulators to understand similarities and differences within their own markets, and how it could be applied to other regulated industries such as telecoms.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew R. Thomas & David Levitt, 2026. "Exploring the Use of Systems Thinking to Describe and Assess the UK’s Postal Market, with an Example for Its Application," Topics in Regulatory Economics and Policy, in: Anna Renata Pisarkiewicz & Timothy J. Brennan & Leonardo Mazzoni & Victor Glass (ed.), Postal Strategies in a Digital and Green Transition, pages 217-228, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:topchp:978-3-032-00502-1_15
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-00502-1_15
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