OECD Releases Report on Measuring Regulatory Performance

on 16 January that details how government officials looking to evaluate their regulatory systems can use perception surveys to evaluate and communicate the result of regulatory reform processes.

The report is the output of OECD's Regulatory Policy Committee, which met in Istanbul, Turkey in June 2010.

The 88-page survey boils down to eight policy conclusions, including:

• Understanding and improving the perception of the regulatory environment matters to regulatory performance, as a regulatory system that is perceived as necessary and worthwhile can encourage further investment.
• Perception surveys are increasingly used to hone and fine-tune regulatory requirements in ways that reduce burdens and increase awareness and confidence in the regulatory system.
• The public's perception of a regulatory system is only partially predicated on the actual quality of the regulatory system. Other factors include trust in government, the current economic situation, front-line experience with government officials, prior expectations of government officials and general media communication.
• Irritation from experiences with regulation and frontline service can account for a significant degree of dissatisfaction with regulatory agencies and regulation.

The full 88-page report can be found at the link below.

• OECD - Measuring Regulatory Performance: A Practitioner's Guide to Perception Surveys
• OECD - Policy Conclusions