Regulation
We look at how government uses regulation to achieve its objectives and how rules can most effectively be designed and implemented through regulators.
Economic and financial regulation
Financial Reporting Council
What is the Financial Reporting Council? What does it do? What powers does it have?
The Greensill saga is a brutal reminder of the value in tougher financial regulation
The Greensill affair reminds us that when it comes to “FinTech”, the need for tough financial regulation is as important as ever.
The future of economic regulation in the UK
The IfG brought together four leading academics and practitioners to discuss the most pressing challenges for economic regulation in the UK.
Competition and Markets Authority
The Competition and Markets Authority is the UK’s principal authority responsible for competition and consumer protection.
Utilities regulation
See all
How much should energy policy and regulation be blamed for price rises?
Giles Wilkes explores the limits of energy policy and regulation – and where the system has failed.
Gas supply issues expose risks to government’s competition policy
As government navigates between price caps and supplier failures there are lessons to learn about the fragility of competition in regulated markets.
Can anyone chair Ofcom?
Public debate concerning the appointment of Ofcom’s chair has raised questions about whether this is a doable job.
How to reform a regulator: in conversation with Sir Jon Thompson
Sir Jon reflects on his experience of leading a regulator and the role that the Financial Reporting Council plays.
Watch the event
Politics and regulation
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.
Regulatory policy scrutiny: independent advice to government
RPC Chair Michael Gibbons CBE reflects on the RPC’s impact to date and where it needs to go next.
Why the Office for Students needs to show its independence
What matters is how the Office for Students board collectively performs and that it shows its independence from government.
Andrew Tyrie can't be an independent regulator and take the Tory whip
Andrew Tyrie's appointment as a Conservative peer is incompatible with his position as chair of the Competition and Markets Authority.
Regulation after Brexit
Taking back control of regulation
Government must invest time and effort to reap the benefits of post-Brexit regulatory freedoms.
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.
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.
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.
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
Gemma Tetlow
Chief Economist
Olly Bartrum
Senior Economist
Maddy Bishop
Researcher