Prospects and Limits of Comparative Research in Communications Policy-Making

摘要: In the fast-paced information and communication industries, policy-makers often confront new issues, for which no or only limited historical precedents exist within jurisdiction. Thus, effects of policy measures cannot be assessed using data past experience. Moreover, relevant is typically distributed asymmetrically evaluate a priori stakeholder presents more convincing scenario. Furthermore, in presence uncertainty, stakeholders will rely on “myths, dogmas, ideologies ‘half-baked’ theories” (Denzau North 1994) to round up support their position. Lastly, interact with markets complex ways raising risk that important but indirect policies are overlooked. Given these conditions, nature problem poorly understood alternative courses action difficult predict. due inherent limitations polity, not all alternatives may considered during deliberation. After were adopted, it thorny separate effect from consequences collateral changes external conditions. Comparative research could provide means overcome constraints. For example, if adopted earlier another jurisdiction, this insights as measure. Likewise, accuracy observations other jurisdictions available so statistical methods used capable separating developments would have occurred anyway.