The regulatory conundrum

THE recent imbroglio over the telecom regulation has prompted a study on the purpose and utility of regulation, especially in public utilities. For instance, the all-important question of where government controls end and where the powers of the regulato ry machinery start, has still not been answered satisfactorily. Also, what is the status of the regulatory authority and its independence? What has not been fully grasped is what good regulation and a properly-structured regulatory authority could do to boost investor confidence. Read more in the Hindu Business Line 05th May, 2000.