Evaluating administrative burdens through SCM: some indications from the Italian experience

Laura Cavallo, Giuseppe Coco () and Mario Martelli
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Laura Cavallo: Prime Minister Office, Italy
Mario Martelli: University of Milan and Prime Minister Office, Italy

No 23, series from Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche - Università di Bari

Abstract: A methodology to measure administrative burdens, based on the Dutch Standard Cost Model (SCM), has been applied in a large number of European countries, coupled in most cases with the commitment to a reduction target. This paper compares the application of the method in different national context and discusses its weaknesses and strengths against more complete forms of evaluation of the adequacy of regulation. The paper also discusses some indication arisen during the measurement of administrative burdens through SCM in Italy. Our main conclusion is that the SCM is a potentially useful tool and could provide motivation for culture change in policymaking. Its major strength, which lies mainly in its pragmatic approach and the possibility of commitment on a quantitative target, may be at the same time a source of weakness and may deliver some misleading results. Also some basic concepts of the model need a more rigorous definition to be consistently applied in different countries.

Keywords: administrative burdens; better regulation; costs of regulation; European governance; standard cost model. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eec and nep-reg
Date: 2009-04, Revised 2009-04
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