Abstract
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations provide normative orientation for many national and regional governments as well as actors from industry and other parts of the civil society. There is a growing consensus that the corresponding transformation processes needed – e.g., in the field of production and consumption patterns (SDG 12) – have to be fostered by a corresponding institutional framework. Properly designed experiments that generate a learning system for all actors involved may be an important building block. Based on an interdisciplinary approach, we provide an overview of the various terminologies for experimentation currently discussed in the social sciences, derive common criteria for a broader approach to the concept of “regulatory experimentation” in reflexive governance structures and present a novel conceptual framework for analysing empirical studies of regulatory experiments.
Highlights
This paper aims to facilitate the inclusion of regulatory experimenting for sustainable development in future governance structures
The United Nations adopted a very broad approach to sustainable development when defining the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which take into account the debate on the so-called ‘planetary boundaries’ (Rockström et al, 2009)1
Such interactions in the regulatory process enable all stakeholders to reveal their preferences to the policy-maker, problems stemming from asymmetrical information that is common in public policy are relieved, and it strengthens the accountability of government (United Nations, 2008)
Summary
This paper aims to facilitate the inclusion of regulatory experimenting for sustainable development in future governance structures. In order to bring about a fundamental change towards avoiding emissions and a resource-efficient production and consumption, social and organisational innovations are essential, since actors with diverging interests have to cooperate along global supply chains An example of this required cooperation is the European chemicals regulation REACH. While case studies of single experiments already exist, a general approach of categorising experiments suitable as an empirical basis for general recommendations for a widespread use of the tool is lacking This in turn hampers its further use by regulators and researchers working on specific regulatory problems. We adopt an interdisciplinary approach to address these questions and explicitly anchor our analysis of regulatory experiments in reflexive governance structures with the aim of fostering sustainable development.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
