Understanding digital regulation and governance

Martha Garcia-Murillo, Roslyn Layton and Ian MacInnes

Chapter 21 in Research Handbook on Digital Regulatory Agencies, 2026, pp 365-375 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: The chapters in this book examine the rise and evolution of digital regulatory agencies through an institutionalist framework, analyzing how governments respond to technological risks, governance challenges, and shifting power dynamics in digital markets. The authors examine how legal traditions, cultural norms, economic capacities, and political agendas shape national regulatory models, comparing market-led approaches in the US with the European Union's proactive stance and the adaptive strategies employed by developing countries, including those in the Caribbean, South Africa, and Brazil. The book highlights the complexity of fragmented regulatory jurisdictions, the debate over centralized versus decentralized expertise, and the risks associated with regulatory capture. It also shows how political shifts, elections, and the influence of key individuals and entities impact institutional priorities and effectiveness. Addressing challenges such as regulatory lag, two-sided markets, and the dominance of tech giants, the book advocates for agile, context-sensitive approaches. Drawing from multidisciplinary perspectives, it offers global insights into balancing innovation and institutional resilience in digital regulation.

Keywords: Digital Regulation; Regulatory Agencies; Political Influence; Technological Risk; Regulatory Capture; New Institutional Economics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035330881
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