Institutions, Credibility and Regulatory Governance in Brazil: an study of the regulatory design of the sectors of telecomunications and electricity

Author(s)

Nara de Carvalho Pavão

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH/SBD)
• Defense date: 2009-02-02

Examining board members

Maria Herminia Brandao Tavares de Almeida; Fernando Luiz Abrucio; Matthew Mac Leod Taylor

• Advisor: Maria Herminia Brandao Tavares de Almeida

Abstract

This thesis consists of a study of Brazils regulatory governance structure, through an analysis of the telecommunications and electricity sectors. The analytical efforts are guided by the theoretical model - developed by Pablo Spiller and Mariano Tommasi that defines the means through which a countrys institutions can affect the ability of politicians to engage in intra-temporal exchanges and, as a consequence, determines the countrys regulatory credibility. Guided by this theoretical model, the analysis of Brazils institutional endowment and of the processes that led to the creation of the regulatory institutions in each sector allows the conclusion that the broad role played by the Executive in the Brazilian political system was also reflected in the specific arenas where the regulatory bodies were shaped. The analysis of the design of the regulatory governance structures demonstrates that, despite initial concerns about the implementation of technical and nonpolitical regulation, these structures are yet to be completely and effectively adapted to the peculiarities and characteristics of Brazils institutional endowment. In addition, the descriptive inference highlights the importance of including the preferences of actors, and the influence of veto players, within the models variables, in order to refine its explanatory power. (AU)