International Workshop. Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals

Regulatory Agencies: The Challenges of Independence, Accountability and Transparency

13-14 July 2012

Regulatory governance has expanded in recent decades, transforming the interaction between the public and the private domains. Based on autonomy, independence, and expertise as fundamental elements to the improvement of policy outcomes and economic efficiency, regulatory agencies have been established to regulate multiple areas, including economic and social issues. However, as their decisions are not merely technocratic and often involve politically sensitive choices, the political and social isolation of regulatory agencies raise concerns about democratic accountability and transparency.

This international workshop will bring together scholars and experts in the area of regulation to contribute a theoretical and empirical assessment of the nature and processes of accountability and transparency in regulatory agencies across sectors and across countries.

Program attached