The RPI can announce an RPI Special Session, titled “New Themes in the Politicisation of Regulation“. The session will begin at 6:00pm on Tuesday, the 15th December, with arrival at the National Liberal Club from 5:30pm. The session will conclude at 7:30pm, with complimentary wine available after the session for continued, informal, discussions. Tea & coffee will also be available upon arrival.
New Themes in the Politicisation of Regulation
The modern challenges facing all those who work in regulation, and the discourse present in discussions about how to regulate, operate in a political and media paradigm that is different from past eras. Over the past twenty year, and increasing year-on-year, the discussion of regulatory practice, frameworks and policy choice occurs in a more democratised, online space, with the views of the public increasingly easier to access than in a traditional media environment. This in turn causes wide-ranging effects on how and why regulators and policy make decisions on regulatory policy, how they design regulatory frameworks. This panel discussion will discuss how the changing nature of our political and media climate effects the actions and decision making in regulation, focusing on these broad questions:
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- Has regulation, both topic and practice, experienced a changed in how it is politicised in the modern era; moving away from the technocratic ideal toward something more interventionist and ideological?
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- Have we already, in effect, moved away from the ideal model of the “independent regulator” in the UK toward a system where regulators act more like ministries, and ministries more directly interfere in the actions of the regulator (as is ongoing in water and energy)?
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- Have regulators been forced to become more adept at public affairs and be more responsive to the day-to-day political discourse that surrounds them as their primary duties expand to cover topics outside their traditional remit? If so, how has this subsequently affected their ability to be effective over the long-term, and make sustainable decisions?
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- Do emergent markets (such as AI) present novel political challenges for regulators? Do regulators require equally novel solutions to address these challenges?
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- Have these changes led to better or worse regulatory practices; both for the consumer and the wider economy?
This panel will be chaired by Sebastien Eyre (RPI Advisory Board, University of Sussex, various roles in the energy and water sectors), with further speakers to be announced on a rolling basis.
Event Details
This event is free and strictly invite only. Priority on spaces will be given to RPI Members (and representatives of RPI Institutional Members), and subsequently given out on a first-come, first served basis. Invitations to the event will be sent via email, and to register for the event please reply to the email confirming that you will attend. If you haven’t received an invitation, but would like to attend this event, please email seminars@rpieurope.org to enquire regarding spaces (early enquiries being more likely to be successful at securing a spot).