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In this project, we examine how public regulators can maintain and strengthen their authority in a complex, open society. Public regulators safeguard the quality and safety of products and services and ensure that markets function fairly. In doing so, they play a crucial role in upholding public trust.

Whether regulators are able to fulfil this role successfully depends to a large extent on their reputation, that is, the perception stakeholders have of their effectiveness, expertise, legitimacy and fairness. When a regulator is regarded as powerless or biased, companies and other organisations are more likely to stretch or ignore the rules – regardless of whether such perceptions are accurate.

In today’s media-driven and pluralist society, reputation is more important than ever. Expertise is increasingly called into question, while emotions and media dynamics play an ever more prominent role. Moreover, regulators must engage with a wide variety of stakeholders (from industry associations to environmental organisations) each with their own perspective and interests.

Hence, we research how the reputation of regulators is established; what effects this reputation has on the behaviour of companies and other organisations; and what strategies regulators can employ to shape and influence their own reputation.

Collaboration and duration

The aim of this research is both to generate scientific insights and to develop practical guidelines for professionals. To this end, we – researchers at Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ and Erasmus ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ â€“ are working in close collaboration with various inspectorates and market regulators. The project is jointly funded by the NWO (Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research) and the Inspectieraad, and will run until the end of 2026. For an overview of current developments related to this project, we kindly refer you to our website.

Researchers

• Prof. Judith van Erp, professor of regulatory governance at Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ, principal investigator
• Prof. Erik Hans Klijn, professor of public management at Erasmus ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ (lead researcher EUR)
• Prof. Martijn van der Steen, professor of public administration at Erasmus ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ and  Dean at NSOB
• Dr. Stephan Grimmelikhuijsen, associate professor at Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ
• Dr. Lauren Fahy, assistant professor at Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ
• Dr. Meike Bokhorst, researcher at Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ and senior researcher at the WRR
• Julia Wesdorp, PhD candidate at Erasmus ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ
• Emma Ropes, PhD candidate at Erasmus ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ
• Rick Stegeman, PhD candidate at Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ

Project website

You can find more information on the project on our website.

Current

For an overview of current developments related to this project, we kindly refer you to our website, such as:
 

• ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ:
• Essays:
• Publications:
• Video:

Contact

Would you like to know more about the project, please contact prof. Judith van Erp:j.g.vanerp@uu.nl.