Conceptualizing Multilevel Regulation

Abstract

This chapter addresses the first sub-research question: What are the criteria for establishing multilevelness of a regulatory space? It discusses the genesis of the term multilevel regulation—in terms of how it departs from and builds on the neighboring concept of ‘multilevel governance.’ More pertinently it identifies key features of this concept and ultimately a set of criteria that will allow us to apply the concept in order to understand current developments in regulatory spaces. This is a necessary first step to describe and capture both the horizontal and vertical developments that have been discussed in Chap. 1.