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Beyond regulatory capture: Policy entrepreneurs' strategies in regulatory policies under authoritarianism

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  • Ahmed Fouad El Haddad

Abstract

This article examines the role of policy entrepreneurs in countering regulatory capture, a phenomenon whereby regulatory bodies influenced by industry lobbying often prioritize private over public interests. The study employs an abductive process‐tracing approach to investigate the 2013 drug pricing reform in Morocco, illustrating how substantial policy shifts can occur even in authoritarian contexts susceptible to regulatory capture. The findings underscore the pivotal role of Houcine El Ouardi, the former Minister of Health, whose strategic leadership exemplified policy entrepreneurship. His capacity to navigate and surmount industry resistance was instrumental to the reform's success, culminating in a significant reduction in drug prices. This case challenges conventional wisdom regarding regulatory capture, demonstrating that individual agency can reshape regulatory outcomes despite opposition. By elucidating how policy entrepreneurs can drive transformative change in resistant regulatory environments under authoritarian regimes, the study contributes to the literature on policy entrepreneurship and regulation. 本文分析了政策企业家在打击监管俘获方面的作用,监管俘获是一种现象,即受行业游说影响的监管机构往往优先考虑私人利益而非公共利益。本研究采用一项溯因过程追踪方法来调查摩洛哥2013年的药品定价改革,阐明了即使在容易受到监管俘获的威权主义环境中,政策如何也能发生重大转变。研究结果强调了前卫生部长Houcine El Ouardi的关键作用,他的战略领导力体现了政策创业。他在应对和克服行业阻力方面的能力对改革的成功起到了重要作用,最终导致药品价格大幅下降。该案例挑战了关于监管俘获的传统观点,证明了个人能力在尽管遭到反对的情况下也能重塑监管结果。通过阐明政策企业家如何在威权主义政权下的抵抗性监管环境中推动转型性变革,本研究为关于政策创业和监管的文献作贡献。 Este artículo examina el papel de los emprendedores de políticas en la lucha contra la captura regulatoria, un fenómeno en el que los organismos reguladores influidos por el cabildeo de la industria a menudo priorizan los intereses privados sobre los públicos. El estudio emplea un enfoque de seguimiento de procesos abductivo para investigar la reforma de precios de medicamentos de Marruecos de 2013, ilustrando cómo pueden producirse cambios sustanciales en las políticas incluso en contextos autoritarios susceptibles a la captura regulatoria. Los hallazgos subrayan el papel fundamental de Houcine El Ouardi, el anterior Ministro de Salud, cuyo liderazgo estratégico ejemplificó el emprendimiento de políticas. Su capacidad para navegar y superar la resistencia de la industria fue fundamental para el éxito de la reforma, que culminó en una reducción significativa de los precios de los medicamentos. Este caso desafía la sabiduría convencional sobre la captura regulatoria, demostrando que las agencias individuales pueden reconfigurar los resultados regulatorios a pesar de la oposición. Al dilucidar cómo los emprendedores de políticas pueden impulsar un cambio transformador en entornos regulatorios resistentes bajo regímenes autoritarios, el estudio contribuye a la literatura sobre el emprendimiento de políticas y la regulación.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmed Fouad El Haddad, 2024. "Beyond regulatory capture: Policy entrepreneurs' strategies in regulatory policies under authoritarianism," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 41(6), pages 961-984, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:revpol:v:41:y:2024:i:6:p:961-984
    DOI: 10.1111/ropr.12635
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