Helpful contributions from think tanks

Think tanks, which can offer a degree of independence vis-à-vis regulators, have made significant contributions to the development of regulatory quality. Here are four I have recently noticed (my thanks to L. Allio).

• The "Reg-Markets Center" is officially the AEI Center for Regulatory and Market Studies. It was established in 2008 as the successor to the AEI-Brookings Joint Center. A primary aim of the Reg-Markets Center is "to gain a deeper understanding of how markets, laws and regulation contribute to economic well-being. The Center will be an independent voice in policy debates". Its site comprises a good library of articles on regulatory reform.
• Regulation2 point O: "a site that aggregates the latest working papers, Congressional and agency testimony, web and print media commentary and the like on regulation, along with blogs by us and by guest contributors. In a phrase: one-stop browsing on the key regulatory issues of the day for both professionals and the interested public". It is a good source of information about the American approach and results to regulatory reform.
• Open Europe claims to be "an independent think tank contributing bold new thinking to the debate about the direction of the EU". Its blog has a "better regulation" category of posts, comprising currently only one item: "100 most costly regulations"
• The Centre for Progressive Reform is a nonprofit research and educational organisation with a network of member scholars working to protect health, safety and the environment through analysis and commentary. Their site offers a section on the use of regulatory tools to address the "regulatory mess", with an emphasis on American issues. CH MONTIN (Brussels)