300146 Theories of Regulation (S) (SoSe 2015)

Regulation theory experienced 'golden days' with the emergence of the notion of the 'regulatory state'. Currently this discussion ebbs away and has made place for two other aspects of regulation: first, instruments and strategies to deal with the enforcement of regulations have gained special attention. Regulatory impact assessment, responsive and smart regulation or risk-based regulations are buzzwords for this line of the debate. Second, particularly David Levi-Faure has questions the opposition of welfare and regulatory state and suggested that -- crudely put -- the welfare state is a necessary precondition for the emergence of the regulatory state. Introducing the concept of state with greater analytical expectations has opened for a second important line of the current debate on regulation.

This seminar reflects upon these debates and is divided into two sections: in a first section main papers from the golden days are discussed as they provide the key arguments from which the current debates start. In a second section the two new arguments are presented in form of general papers and case studies that should enable students to understand the discussion and outline their own case study (at the level of a Master thesis).