Working paper

Efficiency vs. equity concerns in regulatory sandboxes

Claude Crampes, and Antonio Estache

Abstract

The paper makes the case for a more systematic ex-ante assessment of the distribution of gains and losses from efficiency enhancing innovations that regulatory sandboxes are expected to test. It shows how a prior formal modelling of tests can inform the regulators on the possible need to control better upfront in the design of the sandbox for some otherwise underestimated but predictable distributional effects. Failing to do so is likely to lead to underestimate efficiency-equity trade-offs and other distributional issues, across stakeholders or within groups of stakeholders. Simple Industrial Organization models will often suffice to identify the potential issues at an early stage and allow better sandboxes designs and hence more reliable policy relevant results.

Keywords

Regulatory sandboxes; innovation; governance; anti-trust; regulation; efficiency; equity; quality standards;

JEL codes

  • K20: General
  • K21: Antitrust Law
  • K23: Regulated Industries and Administrative Law
  • L12: Monopoly • Monopolization Strategies
  • L13: Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
  • L15: Information and Product Quality • Standardization and Compatibility
  • L51: Economics of Regulation
  • O31: Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
  • O33: Technological Change: Choices and Consequences • Diffusion Processes

Reference

Claude Crampes, and Antonio Estache, Efficiency vs. equity concerns in regulatory sandboxes, TSE Working Paper, n. 23-1466, September 2023.

See also

Published in

TSE Working Paper, n. 23-1466, September 2023