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Regulatory policy

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OECD Regulatory Policy Outlook 2021

Laws and regulations govern the everyday life of businesses and citizens, and are essential tools of public policy. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the crucial role regulation plays in the economy and society, but has also exposed gaps in domestic and international rule-making that have cost lives and money. The 2021 Regulatory Policy Outlook, the third in the series, maps country efforts to improve regulatory quality in line with the 2012 OECD Recommendation on Regulatory Policy and Governance, and shares good regulatory practices that can help close the gaps. It provides unique insights into how countries approach the design, enforcement and revision of regulations, and suggests where countries can best focus their efforts to ensure that laws and regulations work as intended. Finally, it discusses some agile and innovative approaches to rule making such as regulatory sandboxes, behavioural insights, and outcome-based, data-driven and risk-based regulation.

Published on October 06, 2021Also available in: German, French

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface
Foreword
Abbreviations and acronyms
Executive summary
Regulatory policy 2.0
Evidence-based policy making and stakeholder engagement
Regulatory oversight
Rethinking rulemaking through international regulatory co-operation
The governance of sector regulators
Risk-based regulation
Reader’s guide
Country profiles39 chapters available
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
European Union
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Key recommendations

Regulating better

Few OECD countries have robust processes for consulting stakeholders at all levels of the policy making process. Regulations are viewed as more fair if citizens have a say in the process and are informed of the intended outcomes.

Co-ordinating across borders

To be effective in the global economy, laws, rules and regulations need to be better connected and co-ordinated across borders. Tackling global challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, requires collective action.

Looking at outcomes

Governments need to assess whether rules work in practice after they set and implement them. Less than one-quarter of OECD countries systematically check whether regulations meet their objectives.