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Do Membership Benefits Buy Regulatory Compliance?

Author

Listed:
  • Richard Perkins

    (London School of Economics and Political Science, UK, r.m.perkins@lse.ac.uk)

  • Eric Neumayer

    (London School of Economics and Political Science, UK, e.neumayer@lse.ac.uk)

Abstract

Underlying several theories of European integration is the idea that countries' willingness to sign up to supranational rules is dependent on the expectation and/or realization of various benefits. In this paper, we explore whether such benefits also affect member states' implementation of these rules. Using econometric techniques, we estimate the influence of several measures of membership benefits on the annual number of legal infringements received by 15 member states over the period from 1978 to 1999. Our results provide qualified support for the idea that benefits positively influence compliance. We find that greater intra-EU trade dependence and voting power in European institutions relative to population size are negatively associated with legal infringements. Yet, contrary to a priori expectations, net fiscal transfers are positively correlated with infringements.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Perkins & Eric Neumayer, 2007. "Do Membership Benefits Buy Regulatory Compliance?," European Union Politics, , vol. 8(2), pages 180-206, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:eeupol:v:8:y:2007:i:2:p:180-206
    DOI: 10.1177/1465116507076429
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    3. Tosun, Jale, 2011. "When the grace period is over: Assessing the new Member States' compliance with EU requirements for oil stockholding," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(11), pages 7156-7164.
    4. Kari Waters, 2024. "The EU Commission: Supplying enforcement and demanding compliance," European Union Politics, , vol. 25(2), pages 396-421, June.
    5. Dimiter Toshkov, 2008. "Embracing European Law," European Union Politics, , vol. 9(3), pages 379-402, September.
    6. Lauren Peritz, 2018. "Obstructing integration: Domestic politics and the European Court of Justice," European Union Politics, , vol. 19(3), pages 427-457, September.

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