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Self-Regulation in the Regulatory Void

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  • Jodi L. Short

Abstract

Corporate self-regulation has been blamed for many of the worst environmental and financial catastrophes of the twenty-first century, but the failure of self-regulation in these catastrophes has been rivaled by failures of government regulation. This article explores the consequences of adopting self-regulation under conditions of failed or deficient government regulation. First, it identifies the conditions that produce the phenomenon of “blue moon†self-regulation, or self-regulation that successfully achieves public regulatory goals. Second, it develops a typology of regulatory voids in which self-regulation is commonly adopted and analyzes its prospects for success under each set of conditions. It concludes that prospects for self-regulatory success are particularly bleak in regulatory voids that have been created by the concerted political opposition of regulated entities.

Suggested Citation

  • Jodi L. Short, 2013. "Self-Regulation in the Regulatory Void," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 649(1), pages 22-34, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:649:y:2013:i:1:p:22-34
    DOI: 10.1177/0002716213485531
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    References listed on IDEAS

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