Comparative Study of Sectoral Regulation in Select Developing Countries

Cambodia India Indonesia Kenya South Africa Vietnam Zambia

Summary of Research Work:

The research seeks to study the regulatory process in developing countries in Asia (India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia) and Africa (South Africa, Kenya and Zambia) to come out with lessons (good and bad) for sectoral regulation. It provides an opportunity for establishing benchmarks relevant for developing countries in sectoral regulation.

The countries selected for the research study have undergone (are undergoing) transition from a regime characterised by public sector dominance in different segments of the economy to one marked by privatisation and liberalisation with a view to moving towards a competitive environment. This process has been accompanied by the setting up of sectoral regulatory bodies in certain sectors, while others continue to be regulated by government.

The research will study governments’ policy towards sectoral regulation, identify sectors where regulatory functions are performed either by the Government or a specialised agency (henceforth, sectoral regulatory body) and reasons thereof, analyse how the transition from a regime characterised by dominance of public sector to one marked by privatisation is being/has been managed, analyse the regulatory framework with regard to institutional and governance aspects, such as regulatory objectives, mandate, independence, accountability, interface with other agencies, decision making process, capacity, selection and staffing.
Output