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Theorizing Regulatory Intermediaries

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  • Kenneth W. Abbott
  • David Levi-faur
  • Duncan Snidal

Abstract

Regulation is typically conceived as a two-party relationship between a rule-maker or regulator (R) and a rule-taker or target (T). We set out an agenda for the study of regulation as a three- (or more) party relationship, with intermediaries (I) at the center of the analysis. Intermediaries play major and varied roles in regulation, from providing expertise and feedback to facilitating implementation, from monitoring the behavior of regulatory targets to building communities of assurance and trust. After developing the basic regulator-intermediary-target (RIT) model, we discuss important extensions and variations of the model. We then discuss the varieties of regulatory capture that may appear where intermediaries are involved.

Suggested Citation

  • Kenneth W. Abbott & David Levi-faur & Duncan Snidal, 2017. "Theorizing Regulatory Intermediaries," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 670(1), pages 14-35, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:670:y:2017:i:1:p:14-35
    DOI: 10.1177/0002716216688272
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Kenneth W. Abbott & Philipp Genschel & Duncan Snidal & Bernhard Zangl, 2021. "Beyond opportunism: Intermediary loyalty in regulation and governance," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 15(S1), pages 83-101, November.
    2. Andreas Rasche & Wencke Gwozdz & Mathias Lund Larsen & Jeremy Moon, 2022. "Which firms leave multi‐stakeholder initiatives? An analysis of delistings from the United Nations Global Compact," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(1), pages 309-326, January.
    3. Fabiana Di Porto & Marialuisa Zuppetta, 2021. "Co-regulating algorithmic disclosure for digital platforms [Theorizing regulatory intermediaries]," Policy and Society, Darryl S. Jarvis and M. Ramesh, vol. 40(2), pages 272-293.

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