Regulatory transfer in transitioning economies: responses to corruption and weak state institutions

ABSTRACT

This article examines regulatory policy transfer into a transitioning economy and explores the impact of corruption and weak state institutions on the resulting regulatory design and implementation. The study looks at an accreditation programme aimed at lifting the safety performance, compliance and business efficiency of truck operators in South Africa. In this case study a heavily state directed programme operating in Australia undergoes significant modification and redesign to achieve similar regulatory effect in the South African context. The case highlights how in transitioning settings the requirement to deal with local cultural and contextual issues such as corruption and weak state institutions, results in innovative regulatory design and delivery frameworks. While highlighting adaptation progressed through transfer, this study points to the important role industry can play independent of government in delivering the regulatory effect. The findings demonstrate the value transfer studies can bring to the analysis and understanding of policy and regulatory practice. This is a qualitative study drawing on interviews and participant observation with industry and government officials involved in the South African trucking industry.

KEYWORDS:

• Regulation
• corruption
• policy transfer
• self-regulation
• heavy vehicles
• fragile states
• regulatory governance

Acknowledgements

I wish to acknowledge the support provided by my Research Assistant, Alex Moulis, and also appreciate the comments from the anonymous reviewers, which greatly improved the paper. Special thanks to the members of the RTMS Steering Committee who readily welcomed me and participated in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Ethics approval

Human Research Ethics Committee, University of New South Wales, Approval Number: 13030.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christopher Walker

Christopher Walker is the Deputy Dean of University Relations and the Academic Director of the Executive Masters of Public Administration (EMPA) at the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG), and Adjunct Professor, School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University, Queensland. Prior to joining ANZSOG, Chris was the Head of the School of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia. Chris’s work in academic leadership was preceded by a 20-year career in the Australian public service working in middle and senior executive positions in the departments of health, road transport, rail safety and Cabinet Office. Christopher has extensive research, teaching and leadership experience in the fields of strategic policy, public value, policy analysis, policy transfer, regulation and compliance. His research interests include public policy, regulation and public administration.