The Politics of Regulatory Reform

Stuart Shapiro, Debra Borie-Holtz

"Regulation has become a front-page topic recently, often referenced by politicians in conjunction with the current state of the US economy. Yet despite regulation's increased presence in current politics and media, The Politics of Regulatory Reform argues that the regulatory process and its influence on the economy is misunderstood by the general public as well as by many politicians. In this book, two experienced regulation scholars confront questions relevant to both academic scholars and those with a general interest in ascertaining the effects and importance of regulation. How does regulation impact the economy? What roles do politicians play in making regulatory decisions? Why do politicians enact regulations, and what are the benefits and costs of these regulations? The authors answer these questions and untangle the misperceptions behind regulation by using an area of...