Policy Capacity for Regulatory Enforcement

What policy capacities are required for regulatory enforcement? Which of them are readilyimprovable for better enforcement outcomes? Generations of implementation research havebeen focusing on the achievement of policy goals.... [ view full abstract ]

What policy capacities are required for regulatory enforcement? Which of them are readilyimprovable for better enforcement outcomes? Generations of implementation research havebeen focusing on the achievement of policy goals. The study contends that a focus onenforcement may be useful for implementation researchers, given potential normativeexpectations from the policy targets and the general public on the appropriate choice ofenforcement approach and the way they shall be involved in the implementation process.Incorporating necessary policy capacities for enforcement help fulfil these expectations andprovide useful leverage points for attaining satisfactory enforcement outcomes. Informed bythe organization and management literature, the study elaborates the capacity prerequisites atthe individual and organization levels for widely-adopted enforcement strategies includingthe formal-legal approach, responsive approach, information approach, and co-regulationwith non-state actors. These arguments are illustrated with a discussion on the pivotal role ofpolicy capacities in the recent food regulatory reform in Beijing, China. Empirical findingscollected from individual interviews and focus group discussions with front-line regulatoryofficials of Beijing's Food and Drug Administration will be presented