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Regulation in Society

Key information

  • Module code:

    6QQMN379

  • Level:

    6

  • Semester:

      Autumn

  • Credit value:

    15

Module description

What is the module about?

Regulation is a fascinating area of both practice and study. Regulation, which goes beyond just rulemaking to encompass many forms of social control, effecting most aspects of our daily lives, from ensuring basic services are provided efficiently and equitably, to ensuring the safety and efficacy of drugs and vaccines. Regulation is also growing across the globe, and is, increasingly, the tool of choice for governments in economic and social life. Understanding what regulation is, where it comes from, the different forms it takes, and their relative strengths and weaknesses is important for anyone interacting with government: as a citizen, consumer, worker, or entrepreneur. In the module, we engage in discussion of real-world examples of the use of regulation from around the world, from why and how movie content is ranked in different countries, to how setting performance targets for the NHS goes wrong, to how pressure groups may affect the length of time it takes the Food and Drug administration to approve new medication.


This module aims to introduce students to the scholarship and practice of regulation. The module includes an overview of what regulation is and how and why it develops, what are the tools of regulation and how it is enforced, and key issues in regulation such as regulating public services, regulating risk, and global regulation

Who should do this module?

Students with an interest in regulation and public policy.

Provisional Lecture Outline

Section 1: Understanding regulation

Lecture 1: What is regulation? Why regulate?

Lecture 2: Why have regulation and regulatory agencies spread across the globe in recent decades?

 

 

Section 2: Regulatory techniques and strategies: how is regulation carried out?

Lecture 3: Command and control regulation and its alternatives

Lecture 4: Nudge and market-based regulation

Lecture 5: Enforcement techniques

 

 

Section 3: Regulation in practice

Lecture 6: Regulating public and privatized services

Lecture 7: Beyond the state: Global regulation and regulation by non-governmental
organizations

Lecture 8: Regulation, risk and scientific evidence

Lecture 9: Better regulation

Lecture 10: Regulatory accountability

Assessment details

Coursework (80%)

Coursework (20%)

Teaching pattern

Weekly Lectures

Weekly Tutorials

Suggested reading list

Compulsory and supplementary readings include both book chapters and journal articles, for example, selected chapters from:

Baldwin R, Cave M and Lodge M, Understanding Regulation: Theory, Strategy, and Practice (2nd ed, Oxford University Press 2012)

Baldwin R, Cave M and Lodge M, The Oxford Handbook of Regulation (Robert Baldwin, Martin Cave and Martin Lodge eds, 1st edn, Oxford University Press 2012)

Subject areas

Department


Module description disclaimer

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Please note that the module descriptions above are related to the current academic year and are subject to change.