Regulation is a central form of intervention in the world’s economies and societies and therefore a critically important area of study. This unit examines leading regulatory theories and their influence on the strategies used by various regulatory actors. These actors include the state and its enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, industry associations, enterprises and private individuals. We discuss theories of enforcement such as responsive regulation, as well as alternative regulatory systems including self-regulation, meta-regulation, private regulatory schemes and transnational regulation. Also featured is discussion of big data, artificial intelligence and the future of regulation. The unit draws examples from around the world, including Australia. You will examine and evaluate empirical evidence of the effectiveness of regulatory systems and apply this to the design of new regulatory approaches.
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities. You are expected to complete all pre-class activities prior to your scheduled class, and post-class activities should be completed after your scheduled class. Learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed, peer directed and online engagement activities.
identify and understand the roles of important actors in business regulation in Australia and globally
identify and critically analyse leading regulatory theories and how they are put into practice
identify and critically analyse empirical evidence of the effectiveness of various regulatory strategies.
appreciate the complexity and historically evolving nature of business regulation in Australia and globally
