Article contents
Tripartism: Regulatory Capture and Empowerment
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 December 2018
Abstract
The features of regulatory encounters that foster the evolution of cooperation often also encourage the evolution of capture and corruption. Solutions to the problems of capture and corruption—limiting discretion, multiple-industry rather than single-industry agency jurisdiction, and rotating personnel—inhibit the evolution of cooperation. Tripartism—empowering public interest groups—is advanced as a way to solve this policy dilemma. A game-theoretic analysis of capture and tripartism is juxtaposed against an empowerment theory of republican tripartism. Surprisingly, both formulations lead to the conclusion that some forms of capture are desirable. The strengths from converging the weaknesses of these two formulations show how certain forms of tripartism might prevent harmful capture, identify and encourage efficient capture, enhance the attainment of regulatory goals, and strengthen democracy. While the case we make for tripartism is purely theoretical and general in its application to all domains of business regulation, our conclusion is a call for praxis to fish out the contexts in which the theory is true or false.
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- Copyright © American Bar Foundation, 1991
References
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38 We imagine in many regulatory contexts that agencies would not have the temptation incentives to deviate from joint cooperation equilibria—because the temptation payoff from defection would not in fact be higher than an agency's joint cooperation payoff. In such situations, the regulatory game would change from Scholz's (and Axelrod's)” two-sided” prisoner's dilemma. Eric Rasmusen, Games and Information 94–96 (New York: Blackwell, 1989) (“Rasmusen, Games”). In two-sided prisoner's dilemmas, joint cooperation can be undermined by either side defecting (with the resultant retaliation), while in a one-sided prisoner's dilemma, only one player has an incentive to defect. One-sided prisoner's dilemma games still will often lead to joint defection equilibria. For example, even if the agency has no incentive to defect from joint cooperation, there will be joint defection via firm defection. The firm may still have incentives to defect from cooperative agency enforcement and the agency will still have incentives to retaliate against such defection. The implications of capture and the evolution of cooperation on such one-sided games are explored below in note 49. Alternatively, we imagine that the agency defection path to a joint defection equilibrium might be blocked by a firm's reluctance to retaliate. If the firm's punishment payoff (for complying with the letter but not the spirit of the law) is less than its sucker payoff, then the Nash equilibrium will become firm cooperate/agency defect. Scholz's implicit claim is that the firm's punishment payoff will exceed its sucker payoff because agencies will not be able to impose large fines on literal (if not spiritual) compliance. When, however, high punishments deter firm retaliation, firms will retain incentives (as discussed below) to capture regulators to move either to a joint cooperation or a firm defect/agency cooperate equilibrium.Google Scholar
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44 The latter assumption implies that Vft(i,j) = Vat(j,i)for all i or j. The assumption of symmetric payoffs does not affect our results. If the agency and firms have asymmetric payoffs so that, for example, Tf≠ Ta, then the captured agency's net temptation to defect, Δtempt, will be Δtempt=α(S f-R f) + (1-α) (T a-R a), which equals the change in the captured agency's payoff for defecting from a joint cooperation equilibrium. Similarly, the captured agency's net incentive to retaliate against firm defection, Δretal, will be Δretal=α(P f-T f) + (1-α) (P a-S a), which equals the change in the captured agency's payoff for retaliating against a firm defect/agency cooperate equilibrium. Under this more general formulation, increasing degrees of capture (increasing α) reduces both the agency's temptation to defect from joint cooperation and the agency's incentive to retaliate against a defecting firm (both Δtempt and Δretal decrease). This parallels in all relevant respects the effects of capture in the symmetric model (increasing S′ and decreasing T′).Google Scholar
45 If repeated joint cooperation is supportable, then an infinite number of less profitable equilibria will also be stable (e.g., the symmetric strategies of defecting in the first period and playing TFT thereafter would be stable). This result is ensured by the venerable Folk Theorem of game theory (so named because no one can remember who should get credit for it) (Rasmusen, Games). We restrict our attention to repeated joint cooperation equilibria on the plausible assumption that the players will choose the supportable equilibrium with the highest payoff.Google Scholar
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49 Pareto-efficient capture may also facilitate the multiperiod evolution of cooperation. Axelrod demonstrated that TFT strategies could only support a joint cooperation equilibrium if the following inequalities were met: δ > (T-R)/(T-P), δ > (T-R)/(R-S). Capture can also affect the evolution of cooperation by affecting these inequalities. By decreasing the temptation payoff (T′ < T) and increasing the sucker payoff (S′ > S), capture may change the range of δ for which joint cooperation is stable. These inequalities imply critical lower-bound values of δ below which cooperation cannot evolve. As before, reducing the temptation payoff facilitates cooperation, and increasing the sucker payoff restricts the opportunities for cooperation. In the multiperiod setting, decreasing the temptation loosens the first inequality so that at the margin certain discount rates that would not support a joint cooperation equilibrium without capture may be sufficiently small once capture has reduced the temptation payoff. Analogously, the second inequality is loosened by keeping captured S low by social disapproval of regulators who succumb to zero-sum capture. We can thus see a second way that social disapproval reductions to T and S can foster joint cooperation: by extending the range of discount rates where joint cooperation will remain stable in multiperiod games. Axelrod's dual prerequisites for the evolution of cooperation correspond to the “two-sided” nature of the traditional prisoner's dilemma. If the regulatory game, however, more closely represents the “single-sided” prisoner's dilemma game (discussed above in note 38), then the regulatory players will only need to overcome the first inequality. Accordingly, the evolution of cooperation will be easier to establish in single-sided prisoner dilemma games because the players need to deter only one path to joint defection (firm defection/agency retaliation). Efficient capture will also be much easier to obtain in single period games. As long as a firm can gain a first-mover advantage via capture (see supra note 36), then it can choose the higher payoffs of joint cooperation without fear of agency defection.+(T-R)/(T-P),+δ+>+(T-R)/(R-S).+Capture+can+also+affect+the+evolution+of+cooperation+by+affecting+these+inequalities.+By+decreasing+the+temptation+payoff+(T′+<+T)+and+increasing+the+sucker+payoff+(S′+>+S),+capture+may+change+the+range+of+δ+for+which+joint+cooperation+is+stable.+These+inequalities+imply+critical+lower-bound+values+of+δ+below+which+cooperation+cannot+evolve.+As+before,+reducing+the+temptation+payoff+facilitates+cooperation,+and+increasing+the+sucker+payoff+restricts+the+opportunities+for+cooperation.+In+the+multiperiod+setting,+decreasing+the+temptation+loosens+the+first+inequality+so+that+at+the+margin+certain+discount+rates+that+would+not+support+a+joint+cooperation+equilibrium+without+capture+may+be+sufficiently+small+once+capture+has+reduced+the+temptation+payoff.+Analogously,+the+second+inequality+is+loosened+by+keeping+captured+S+low+by+social+disapproval+of+regulators+who+succumb+to+zero-sum+capture.+We+can+thus+see+a+second+way+that+social+disapproval+reductions+to+T+and+S+can+foster+joint+cooperation:+by+extending+the+range+of+discount+rates+where+joint+cooperation+will+remain+stable+in+multiperiod+games.+Axelrod's+dual+prerequisites+for+the+evolution+of+cooperation+correspond+to+the+“two-sided”+nature+of+the+traditional+prisoner's+dilemma.+If+the+regulatory+game,+however,+more+closely+represents+the+“single-sided”+prisoner's+dilemma+game+(discussed+above+in+note+38),+then+the+regulatory+players+will+only+need+to+overcome+the+first+inequality.+Accordingly,+the+evolution+of+cooperation+will+be+easier+to+establish+in+single-sided+prisoner+dilemma+games+because+the+players+need+to+deter+only+one+path+to+joint+defection+(firm+defection/agency+retaliation).+Efficient+capture+will+also+be+much+easier+to+obtain+in+single+period+games.+As+long+as+a+firm+can+gain+a+first-mover+advantage+via+capture+(see+supra+note+36),+then+it+can+choose+the+higher+payoffs+of+joint+cooperation+without+fear+of+agency+defection.>Google Scholar
50 Although reducing the agency's temptation payoff (T′ R) can deter agency defection from joint cooperation, joint cooperation will only be an equilibrium if the firm itself is also deterred from defection. This will often be the case because while the agency may be deterred from defection, it will still retaliate if the firm defects. In these situations, the firm is left only with the choice of joint cooperation or joint defection–and clearly prefers the former. In other instances, the process of capture will destroy both the agency's incentive to either defect (T′ R) or retaliate (S′ P). In these circumstances, capture will not facilitate joint cooperation, as the firm will simply choose to defect. The circumstances under which this will occur are displayed below in fig. 3.Google Scholar
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55 The issue is whether agencies' current attitude against defecting to the temptation payoff is the by-product of firm lobbying.Google Scholar
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92 An alternative model here is that regulatory laws are usually set at a standard that everyone, including regulators, understands is too high. Agencies seek that level below the standard in the law that the state accepts as normally appropriate. Then the model unfolds in the same way: the industry bargains for less than this, the NGO for more, so that with the NGO playing the game, the result is more likely near the standard the state accepts as appropriate. Similarly in those situations where the law has lagged behind technological change and the state seeks a standard higher than that embodied in the law, NGO participation will bring the final result closer to that preferred state standard.Google Scholar
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116 This policy choice is similar to the “Battle of the Sexes” game, a conflict between a man who wants to go to the ballet and a woman who wants to go to a prizefight. While selfish, they are deeply in love and also prefer to be together (Rasmusen, Games 34 (cited in note 38)). The payoffs for such a conflict could be rewritten in terms of the policy conflict: NGO AB WX CD(2,1) (-5,-5) FIRM_YZ (-1,-1) (1,2) Payoffs to (NGO, FIRM) The compromise policy choice of ABYZ corresponds to the negative “off-diagonal” payoffs of uncoordinated attendance. Unlike the prisoner's dilemma, there is no dominant equilibrium for the Battle of the Sexes game. Instead, our argument is that tripartism could improve prospects that a coordinated equilibrium will be reached. Tripartism, indeed, might be able to increase the possibility that the NGO's preference is followed. The multiplicity of NGOs might in some contexts constitute a type of precommittment for their preferred strategy. In the Battle of the Sexes, if one party can precommit to picking a certain strategy, the other player will predictably acquiesce. We will not press this line too far, however, because there is a third player involved—the state, which will ultimately decide whether to reject ABYZ.Google Scholar
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124 The resolution to this problem can only be of an institutionally contingent form. We do not see any easy general theoretical resolution. However, one of the authors has certainly participated in Australian regulatory cultures where the problem is solved fairly well by an appropriate mix of opportunities for key players to meet both collectively and in pairs. Indeed many university departments solve this problem pretty well: there are some issues where constructive communication will best be advanced at a full faculty meeting, others where it is better for smaller working groups to meet, others where it is best for the chairperson to communicate individually with all faculty members. So long as the agreements that are the product of a sequence of private discussions are ultimately brought up in a way that gives all parties an opportunity for open communication about them, tripartite process can be constructively advanced by confidential caucusing; see generally Johan P. Olson,” Integrated Organizational Participation in Government” in P.C. Nystrom & W.H. Starbuck, eds., 2 Handbook of Organizational Design (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1981).Google Scholar
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128 Scholars of a rational choice bent sometimes persist in a disinclination to accept that trust is a precondition for their explanations based on economic interests. Speaking of economic reform, Elster and Moene say this of trust: Indeed, some amount of trust must be present in any complex economic system, and it is far from inconceivable that systems with a higher level of general trust could come about. It would be risky, however, to make higher levels of trust into a cornerstone of economic reform. We may hope that trust will come about as the by-product of a good economic system (and thus make the system even better), but one would be putting the cart before the horse were one to bank on trust, solidarity and altruism as the preconditions for reform. Jon Elster & K. Moene, eds., Alternatives to Capitalism (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988). But what reform could there be of the securities market, arguably the central institution of a capitalist economy, for which trust was not a precondition? How could a securities market, or its replacement, work efficiently when distrust meant that trades could not be agreed, could not affect prices, until contracts were signed by vendor and purchaser? The very etymology of “security” is grounded in the discourse of trust and confidence; in the Oxford English Dictionary, a security is a “pledge for the fulfilment of undertaking.” Trust is constitutive of a good economic system and a good economic system is constitutive of trust. Sound institutional design is impossible without taking both economic incentives and trust seriously as preconditions for success.Google Scholar
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137 The idea of tripartism can be applied along with other forms of regulatory delegation. NGOs can be involved in self-regulatory enforcement, enforced self-regulation as well as with more escalating forms of traditional government regulation—what we term the enforcement pyramid. Ayres & Braithwaite, Responsive Regulation (cited in note 25). Indeed NGO involvement can strengthen the acceptability of deregulatory shifts by injecting public accountability and resistance to supine enforcement under the softer options. NGO involvement can also provide the data on noncompliance that justifies escalation of state regulatory intervention. In these senses, the ideas of tripartism and the enforcement pyramid are complementary ways of transcending the regulation versus deregulation debate.Google Scholar
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