National Varieties Still Matter: A Comparative Analysis of Consumer Credit Data Regimes in the United States, Sweden, Israel, and France

Abstract

Before asking why countries vary, we should ask how they differ. Stressing variations in capitalism models, this article explores how regulatory regimes are related to underlying national institutions and politics. Using a stepwise comparative analysis of consumer credit data regimes in four countries, it underscores variation in two regulatory dimensions: the business restrictions between two clusters, the United States and Sweden vs. France and Israel; and the consumer empowerment within these clusters. The article concludes that grasping the regulatory state’s multidimensional character improves understanding of the regulatory process and underlines the continuity of national capitalist models in the era of regulatory capitalism.