I’m delighted to announce that I have been appointed as a member of the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC), the UK Government’s independent regulatory scrutiny body.
What is the RPC’s mission?
For those unfamiliar with the RPC, it plays a vital role in the UK regulatory policy. The Committee assesses the quality of evidence and analysis used to inform government regulatory proposals. This independent advice and scrutiny helps ensure that ministerial policy decisions are based on accurate evidence, ultimately producing better regulation.
The RPC’s work touches virtually every sector of the economy, from environmental and business regulations through to education and transport. The Committee’s independence and commitment to evidence-based policymaking is something I’ve admired throughout my career. In Government, I was often on the other side of the fence, preparing Regulatory Impact Assessments and making sure these would pass RPC scrutiny.
New members
I’m joining alongside three other new appointees as part of a regular refresh of the Committee’s membership. The official announcement can be found on the RPC’s blog, where RPC Chair Stephen Gibson welcomed us:
“It is important for an advisory body like the RPC that the membership changes periodically…[I am] delighted to welcome Caroline, Frances, Allan and John. I am sure they will quickly become key members of the team as we help the Government in ensuring that regulation achieves its objectives and supports growth.”
Why the RPC matters
Having spent 18 years in the Government Economic Service, I’ve seen first hand the importance of rigorous evidence and economic analysis in regulatory decisions. Poorly evidenced regulations can stifle innovation and growth, or fail to protect consumers, workers, and the environment.
As economists, we all have a responsibility to ensure policy decisions are based on sound evidence and analysis. The RPC plays a crucial role in this process and so it’s a privilege to serve on the Committee.
What next?
I’ll be starting my three-year term this month. The appointment aligns perfectly with my ongoing work in social value and economic research, as good regulation is fundamentally about maximising social welfare.
The role is part-time and so I’ll continue my work with Mission Economics alongside this appointment. I’m excited about the cross-fertilisation of ideas between these roles.
If you’re interested in learning more about the RPC’s work, I encourage you to visit their website or follow their blog.
Here’s to better regulation and evidence-based policymaking!
Dr. Allan Little is the founder of Mission Economics and newly appointed member of the UK’s Regulatory Policy Committee.
