Information-based Regulation: New roles for regulators

Abstract

Information-based regulation is using information to drive behaviour change to achieve social, environmental or public policy objectives. This set of regulatory alternatives has the potential to help ease pressure on regulatory budgets while also improving firm compliance behaviours and achieving regulatory goals. However, challenges remain in understanding the types of information-based regulation, when it might be effective and the role of regulators in its delivery. The focus of this research is on using information-based regulation to influence firm behaviours within the environmental, energy and food policy areas. Our project is the first to collate evidence from academic research, international experience and current UK case examples on roles for regulators in information-based regulation.