Consumer participation as democratization of the regulatory process

Over the past three decades the main infrastructure industries are becoming significantly liberalized. Market liberalization is a complex process and many challenges are emerging. One of them is related to consumer participation as democratization of the regulatory process. The new governance paradigm stresses the importance of the involvement of all stakeholders in regulatory decision making. This issue aims to provide a framework for understanding the conceptual basis and a range of strategies for consumer participation in regulation of selected infrastructures and financial services.

- A conceptual framework of consumer participation, by Tatjana Jovanic
Regulation of infrastructures needs to incorporate consumers as stakeholders in the regulatory process. Mechanisms should be put in place in order to ensure that collective interests of consumers are adequately represented.

- Social factors in an institutional transition: Lessons from the ATC conflict in Spain, by Pere Suau-Sanchez
Social factors are key for deploying institutional reforms. The Single European Sky did not anticipate them in its deployment plan. The Spanish case is analysed and shows that technology is not enough.

- Financial Regulation in Ireland – Consumer Information and Consumer Representatio, by Raymond O’Rourke
This Paper explains the purpose of Consumer Panel set up by Irish Financial Regulator, its role and the difficult relationship between them, due to the lack of adequate consideration given to Panels’ suggestions and recommendations.

- Consumer participation in the regulation of the water & sanitation sector, by Robin Simpson
A whole spectrum of forms of consumer participation in regulation and management of the water and sanitation sector is identified, ranging from common sense customer care and public relations at one end to cooperative ownership and participatory budgeting at the other.