When Governments Regulate Governments

摘要: This article advances a political theory of regulation that accounts for the choices regulators and regulated entities when both are governments. Leading theories assume governments regulate profit-maximizing firms: Governments set rules, to which firms respond rationally in ways constrain their behavior. But often other We argue government agencies private face different compliance costs, have greater incentives than appeal regulations through channels. Simultaneously, typical enforcement instruments use influence firm behavior may be less effective against Our empirical subjects public entities’ with U.S. Clean Air Act Safe Drinking Water Act. find that, compared firms, violate these laws significantly more frequently likely penalized violations.