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Ambiguity and relational signals in regulator–regulatee relationships

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  • Julien Etienne

Abstract

Responsive Regulation translated an ongoing academic debate about behavior orientation and regulatory enforcement into a synthetic framework. Yet ethnographic studies reveal that ambiguity pervades regulator–regulatee interactions and suggest that the reality of regulatory encounters may be too ambivalent to fit the picture of the regulatory “game” at the heart of Ayres and Braithwaite's theory. This article proposes to address this ambivalence by drawing the outline of a relational signaling approach to regulatory encounters. The regulatory game is deconstructed into several ideal types of regulator–regulatee relationships. Within each ideal type ambiguity is managed with relational signals, namely behaviors that take a specific signification depending on the nature of the relationship. A relational signaling approach can account for the varying meanings of cooperation, defection, and mutual social control across different regulator–regulatee dyads.

Suggested Citation

  • Julien Etienne, 2013. "Ambiguity and relational signals in regulator–regulatee relationships," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 7(1), pages 30-47, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:reggov:v:7:y:2013:i:1:p:30-47
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-5991.2012.01160.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Frédérique Six, 2007. "Building interpersonal trust within organizations: a relational signalling perspective," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 11(3), pages 285-309, September.
    2. Parker,Christine, 2002. "The Open Corporation," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521818902, September.
    3. Braithwaite, John, 2006. "Responsive regulation and developing economies," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 884-898, May.
    4. repec:bla:kyklos:v:54:y:2001:i:2-3:p:317-42 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Siegwart Lindenberg, 2001. "Intrinsic Motivation in a New Light," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(2‐3), pages 317-342, May.
    6. Frederique Six & Bart Nooteboom & Adriaan Hoogendoorn, 2010. "Actions that Build Interpersonal Trust: A Relational Signalling Perspective," Review of Social Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 68(3), pages 285-315.
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    2. Frédérique Six & Steven de Vadder & Monika Glavina & Koen Verhoest & Koen Pepermans, 2023. "What drives compliance with COVID‐19 measures over time? Explaining changing impacts with Goal Framing Theory," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(1), pages 3-21, January.

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