Development of an RIA Coordination System with a Focus on SME and Start-Ups

Measuring compliance costs of businesses like administrative burden is hot stuff, from scientific view point as well from policy praxis. Also, the number of persons involved has increased considerably from a small inner circle of scientist and ministerial experts to rather big numbers of politicians, public officers and private consultants, specialized in public advisory. Almost by consequence, the debate about concepts, definitions and methodology starts again, every time new participants are joining the debate. In the debates, there are mostly two key questions. First, are there arguments to introduce the public goals of regulations in the measurements or could the measurement be restricted to the costs of the regulated parties (businesses, citizens etc.) only? Second, which methodology is most appropriate to measure benefits and costs of regulations? This chapter tries to bring more transparency in order to stimulate a more impartial discussion about the topic deregulation and its consequences. Important elements of this transparency are an adequate categorization of the separate cost and benefit effects, a systematic evaluation of these cost and benefit effects, and finally, an evaluation of the available techniques/methodologies. Such transparency could be the guidance for all who are involved in the law making process and the measurement of compliance effects.