Information Technology and Regulatory Policy

Abstract

Information technology holds the potential for improving the process bywhich government makes regulatory decisions affecting vital aspects of society and the economy. This article charts new directions for research on the application of information technology to regulatory policy making. Drawing on the deliberations from two recent workshops organized by Harvard University’s Regulatory Policy Program, the article highlights avenues for expanding the objectives of digital government research, as well as contributing knowledge to decision makers who seek to improve the responsiveness, efficiency, and manageability of regulatory policy making. Effective innovations in applying information technology to regulatory policy will need to take into account both the capabilities of newinformation technologies and the institutional design of the federal regulatory process. By integrating perspectives from both the information and social sciences, digital government research can help shape the future of information technology and the making of regulatory policy.