Delegation versus Control: A Comparison of Reform Patterns and Diffusion Channels in Latin American Regulatory Agencies

Abstract

Regulation is a policy instrument that governments use to achieve their goals. This is affected by the delegation and control schemes to which independent regulatory agencies (IRAs) are subject. The article compares how countries evolved following the introduction of IRAs in the early 1990s in the telecommunications, gas, and electricity sectors in Latin America. It develops a model based on the logics of delegation and diffusion channels to determine which patterns are encountered in the region. It was found that, in the three sectors, control has increased more than delegation, and this has followed mainly a sectoral diffusion pattern.

Keywords:

• independent regulatory agencies
• reform patterns
• diffusion
• delegation
• control
• Latin America

Acknowledgments

This research was funded by los Andes university assistant professors research fund.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Universidad de los Andes [PR.3.2018.5567].

Notes on contributors

Camilo Ignacio González

Camilo Ignacio González attended Rosario University in Bogotá, Colombia, where he earned an Undergraduate Degree in Political Science. Afterwards, he attended the University of Utrecht, where he earned a Master in Public Administration and Organizational Science. After I went on to pursue and earn a PhD in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Antwerp. Since graduation, he has been working as a university professor. The courses he has taught include Regulatory Design, Introduction to Public Administration, Public Policy Analysis, Public Management, Quantitative Methodology, Statistics, and a Research Seminar. Currently he holds a position as an Assistant Professor at the School of Government in Los Andes University in Bogotá, Colombia. Additionally, he is member of the Research Group in Public Administration and Management of Antwerp University. His research is in regulation of public services and coordination among public organizations. Camilo has published several papers on regulatory governance. The last five years he has been committed to the study of regulation, and specifically regulatory, design and regulatory governance characteristics in different regulatory regimes. He has been mainly focusing on the issues of coordination among organizations with regulatory functions, the regulatory decision-making process and the independence of regulators.

Santiago Gómez Álvarez

Santiago Gómez Alvarez attended Los Andes University in Bogotá, Colombia, earning an Undergraduate Degree in Economics with a minor in Physics. After graduation held the position as Assistant Researcher at the School of Government in Los Andes University working on regulation of public services. Currently works as a Sales and Trading Analyst for Citibank.