Transnational Policy Innovation: The OECD and the Diffusion of Regulatory Impact Analysis

What role does the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development play in diffusing policy innovations? Through regulatory impact analysis (RIA), this book shows how transnational networks, including the OECD, have an impact on national policy process. De Francesco's analytical framework encompasses institutional features, as well as internal and international determinants, of the policy innovation RIA. Drawing on original data sets, the author uses three empirical analyses to assess how far the OECD drives government decisions to adopt, implement and evaluate RIA. 'Fabrizio De Francesco examines the factors that have encouraged and inhibited the spread of regulatory impact analysis among nations. Relying on a sophisticated grasp of theory and an innovative use of different methodologies, his book makes a substantial contribution to the literatures on policy diffusion and comparative regulation.' William F. West, Professor and Sara Lindsey Chair, Texas A&M University 'Fabrizio De Francesco offers an insightful quantitative assessment of this spread and its causes; he finds that transnational networks of information sharing, here notably via the OECD, have had a major impact. This book raises the bar for careful empirical studies of regulation, RIA, and the diffusion of policy innovations.' Jonathan B. Wiener, William R. and Thomas L. Perkins Professor of Law, Duke University Duke University 'As scholars, we have long suspected that the OECD plays a critically important role in diffusing national policy innovations, but we have struggled to explain when, how and indeed why this might be the case. Drawing on a sophisticated mixed methods approach, this important new book seeks to shed new light on the OECD's activities, focusing on the policy tool of impact assessment. I predict it will change the way in which scholars of international organisations and national public administration think about this most mundane but quietly influential of international actors.' Andrew Jordan, Professor of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia 'Fabrizio De Francesco puts forward a compelling and nuanced analysis of the influence of the OECD on national regulatory policies. The Diffusion of Regulatory Impact Analysis shows clearly the power of the OECD in shaping national agendas - but also its limits. This book belongs on the shelves of all serious scholars of regulatory governance.' Fabrizio Gilardi, Professor of Policy Analysis, University of Zurich

Table of Contents:
contents List of Figures and Tables ix List of Abbreviations xi Acknowledgements xiii Preface xv Chapter One: Introduction 1 Chapter Two: The Analytical Framework 19 Chapter Three: RIA as an Oversight Mechanism 37 Chapter Four: Framing a Transnational Policy Innovation 57 Chapter Five: Influencing RIA Adoption 73 Chapter Six: Modelling RIA Implementation 93 Chapter Seven: Evaluating RIA Programmes 125 Chapter Eight: Conclusion 147 Appendices 159 Bibliography 173 Index 199

About the Author :
Fabrizio De Francesco is a lecturer at the School of Government and Public Policy, University of Strathclyde. After completing his PhD in Politics at the University of Exeter, he was a Marie Curie research fellow at the University of Zurich and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Lausanne. He has also been involved in several national and international projects on Regulatory Impact Analysis. His research interest lies on comparative public policy, regulatory governance, and policy diffusion. His publications include a co-authored book with Claudio M. Radaelli on Regulatory Quality in Europe and several papers on international journals including Comparative Political Studies, Journal of European Public Policy, and Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis.