As a result, an increasingly critical approach is being taken, asking what kind of government intervention best suits the policy problem being considered. Alternatives are being weighed critically and their characteristics carefully examined. New knowledge is emerging about the use of different alternatives in different circumstances, as experience with them broadens. PUMA work on alternatives to traditional regulation aims to increase understanding of the potential benefits of alternatives by publishing both case studies of the use of different options in a range of contexts and more theoretical material seeking to identify general characteristics of different alternatives and principles for their use. The PUMA work is looking at a wide range of alternatives.
Alternatives can include both different forms of regulation and non-regulatory approaches.
This can provide greater flexibility for firms to meet requirements at lower cost. Process regulation . Many risks are extremely difficult and costly to regulate via prescriptive controls. The real effectiveness of regulation depends crucially on enforcement. New strategies are targeting inspection activity more effectively, while the contracting of this activity to third parties also holds the potential for efficiency gains.