Dr M Lodge, Dr J Black, Professor R Baldwin and Professor M Thatcher.

This is the core course for MSc Regulation and MSc Regulation (Research). Other students will not usually be admitted.

The course aims to give students an essential grounding in theories of regulation encountered in the legal, political science and law & economics literatures. It examines competing explanations of the origins, development and reform of regulation; the styles and processes of regulation; issues surrounding enforcement; the inter-organisational and international aspects of regulation; and questions of evaluation and accountability. Some specific cases will be explored through the medium of an additional practitioner seminar series, which will be led by experienced practitioners invited on a one-off basis.

The course focuses on the following key themes: contrasting perspectives on regulation, differences in regulatory styles, dynamics and processes, regulatory standard-setting, regulatory enforcement, evaluating regulation.

The course is taught: (a) by 20, two-hour sessions (GV488) in variable format (some lecture-discussions, student-paper led discussions, debates) comprising the academic core, (b) by nine seminars on 'economics of regulation' and 'research design' in the Michaelmas term and (c) approximately five practitioner seminars, drawing on practitioners from a variety of regulated sectors.

All students are expected to produce three written essays.

R Baldwin, C Scott & C Hood, Socio-Legal Reader on Regulation (1998); R Baldwin & M Cave, Understanding Regulation (1998); M Moran, The British Regulatory State (2003); A Ogus, Regulation (2004); R Baldwin & C McCrudden, Regulation and Public Law (1987); C Hood, H Rothstein & R Baldwin, The Government of Risk (2001); R Baldwin, Rules and Government (1994); J Black, M Lodge and M Thatcher, Regulatory Innovation, (2005); B. Morgen and K Yeung, Introduction to Law and Regulation (2006); C Sunstein, Risk and Reason (2002).

Students will be assessed by a course essay weighted at 25% of the total mark and a three-hour examination in the ST; weighted at 75% of the total mark. The examination will involve answering three questions out of 12.