Publication details
Legislative Bias and RIA: Case Study of Article 17 CDSM in Czech Republic, Public Choice Theory and Cognitive Biases
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| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| Citation | |
| Description | Regulatory impact assessment (RIA) is a regular part of modern lawmakers' toolkit aiming to improve legislation coherency and promote efficient decision-making by supporting creation of evidence-based policies. RIA is a systemic evidence-based approach that employs economic methodology to assess the proposed legislation and its alternatives. In its very essence, it requires legislators to perform and document a cost-benefit analysis. Our research explores RIA processes and the biases characteristic to RIA in a case study of the transposition of Article 17 CDSM Directive in Czechia. Article 17 CDSM is a substantive piece of legislation that shapes online copyright and use of user generated content. The presentation shall provide a brief background of RIA in Czechia and insight into how the RIA of Article 17 CDSM was performed in Czechia. We identify the biases that negatively impact RIA by using the tools of economic theory. First, the presentation shall focus on the Law and Economics framework and positive analysis. Our research employs public choice theory to provide an explanation of observed inadequacies and reveal a challenged legal landscape, pointing out the RIA process is mostly formal, not material. Viable explanations range from regulatory capture to the improper chronological order of legal drafting and RIA. RIA is also vulnerable to observing technology as static which is highly problematic in the landscape of rapid technological advancements, such as the online copyright arena. Second, the presentation shall also offer insight from behavioral economics, as the possible influence of cognitive biases on the RIA process is explored in depth. These findings should inform and enrich practical legislative processes and promote good law-making. |
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