Regulatory impact assessment in public policy

Abstract

Regulatory impact assessment (RIA) is the systematic appraisal of how different proposed policy interventions will affect groups of stakeholders and exert wider economic, social and environmental impacts when compared to the current situation. This analytical step takes place mainly upstream in the policy process at the policy formulation stage and so is often referred to as ex ante appraisal. RIA is underpinned by a variety of motivations but three dominate – increasing oversight of the bureau, improving regulatory quality and enhancing accountability. These are delivered through a range of steps and methods which vary across countries and sectors (Wegrich, 2011).