Regulation
We look at how government uses regulation to achieve its objectives and how rules can most effectively be designed and implemented through regulators.
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Five things we learned from Keir Starmer’s speech on reforming the state
What did the prime minister reveal about his plan for how government should work?
Tracker: The government’s proposed new public bodies
What were the public bodies promised in Labour’s election manifesto and what has been delivered since its entry into government?
Policy making in the era of artificial intelligence
Technology is changing and so should the civil service.
Wind and solar power: How to turn manifesto promises into tangible results
What can the government learn from the coalition's development of the UK’s offshore wind sector?
Parliament and regulators: How can scrutiny be improved?
Dame Meg Hillier and Sir Robert Buckland joined our expert panel to discuss what can be done to strengthen parliament's scrutiny role over regulators.
Watch the event
Artificial intelligence
Whitehall and AI: how can government move from promising pilots to real results?
Poor data infrastructure and a lack of agreement on evaluation could hold back otherwise promising AI innovations in government.
Artificial intelligence: definitions and implications for public services
Artificial intelligence has captured the public imagination, but what is it, how might it be used by government, and what concerns does that raise?
Artificial intelligence: how is the government approaching regulation?
What is the government doing to regulate artificial intelligence, and how is it ensuring alignment with other countries?
Government – and society – must be ready to adapt to artificial intelligence
The government should devote much greater attention to preparing for AI’s impact.
Politics and regulation
Parliament and regulators
Almost a third of UK regulators have not been scrutinised by parliament since the 2019 general election.
A third of regulators haven’t been scrutinised by parliament – this needs to change
New IfG research sets out why parliamentarians are struggling to hold regulators to account – and what they could do better.
The Office for Students needs support to assert its independence
If ministers are serious about higher education, they should take on board the recommendations of the recent Lords inquiry into the OfS.
House of Lords report provides clear direction for regulatory reform
'Who watches the watchdogs?' represents the latest contribution to an ongoing debate about how regulators should better be held to account.
Politics and regulation: recipe for conflict or constructive partnership?
The relationship between regulators and politicians was the subject of an event in the IfG and City of London series on government and regulation.
Utilities regulation
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Energy regulation requires trade-offs the regulator cannot make alone
Government must not cut Ofgem adrift in political seas.
A briefing on the energy market with Jonathan Brearley, Ofgem's Chief Executive Officer
Jonathan Brearley, Ofgem’s CEO, gave a briefing on the energy market, energy bills and what the coming year will mean for consumers.
Ofwat
Ofwat is the economic regulator for the water and sewage sectors in England and Wales. But how does it work?
Economic and financial regulation
How to reform a regulator: in conversation with Sir Jon Thompson
Sir Jon reflected on his experience of leading a regulator and the role that the Financial Reporting Council plays.
Financial Reporting Council
What is the Financial Reporting Council? What does it do? What powers does it have?
Competition and Markets Authority
The Competition and Markets Authority is the UK’s principal authority responsible for competition and consumer protection.
Rishi Sunak turns to the City in search of Brexit dividends
The government's choices will determine whether embracing regulatory freedom will outweigh the disadvantages of losing access to the single market.
Public body deep dives
We look at how specific public bodies – including regulators – are configured, how they are performing, and what problems they face.
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Regulation after Brexit
Taking back control of regulation
Government must invest time and effort to reap the benefits of post-Brexit regulatory freedoms.
Taking back control of subsidies
A UK state aid regime needs rules and a strong regulator to avoid wasting taxpayer money and protect competition within the UK internal market.
Trade and regulation after Brexit
The government will not be able to conclude a large number of trade agreements at speed and maintain its much-prized regulatory autonomy after Brexit.
Brexit may provide regulatory opportunities, but ministers can’t ignore the costs
The positive vision set out in Iain Duncan Smith’s new report on post-Brexit regulatory freedom fails to acknowledge the trade-offs involved.
Our regulation team
Matthew Gill
Programme Director
Whitehall and AI: how can government move from promising pilots to real results?
Gemma Tetlow
Chief Economist
Rachel Reeves has made welcome changes to the fiscal rules
Shivani Chivukula
Research Assistant