Giving Sisyphus a Helping Hand : Pathways for Sustainable RIA Systems in Developing Countries

Ladegaard, Peter ; Lundkvist, Petter ; Kamkhaji, Jonathan

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: REGULATION;    BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT;    REGULATORY IMPACT ASSESSMENT;    PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM;    REGULATORY FRAMEWORK;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-8367
RP-ID  :  WPS8367

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Regulatory impact assessment is a toolused by governments to support evidence-based andcoordinated policy making. This paper contributes to thedebate on regulatory impact assessment in developingcountries by addressing the lack of a systematic account ofreforms, and the lack of a comprehensive explanatory accountof reform outcomes. The study first maps developingcountries' regulatory impact assessment reforms between2001 and 2016. In total, 60 reforms are identified. Reformdesign is analyzed by measuring adherence to sixinternationally recognized "good practices." Thestudy then assesses whether the reforms -- two years or moreafter they were launched -- led to functioning regulatoryimpact assessment systems. Of the 60 reforms, 20 led tofunctional systems within two years of the conclusion of thereform. Three reforms were too recent to be assessed. Thestudy shows that adherence to good practices is a necessarybut not sufficient condition for early success. Among thesix good practices, two are shown to be particularlydecisive for the success of regulatory impact assessmentreforms, namely, formal integration of regulatory impactassessment in policy making and the presence of a regulatoryoversight unit. The second part of the study analyzesregulatory impact assessment reforms that did not produceearly success despite adhering to good practices. The studytests several hypothetical reasons for slow developments. Itpoints to the importance of donor flexibility and patienceand the need for building reform constituencies inside andoutside government. The traditional orthodoxy of regulatoryimpact assessment reforms as an extension of red tapereduction is challenged. The paper finally presents severalpossible policy implications of the findings.