George stigler’s theory of economic regulation at 50 - introduction to a special issue

Abstract

Since its publication in 1971, George J. Stigler’s “Theory of Economic Regulation” (1971), secured its place as the dominant theory of the causes and consequences of regulation in economics. The article was cited by the economic Nobel prize committee as one of the reasons Stigler received the prize in 1982. In his article, Stigler (1971) frames the conversation regarding the “Theory of Economic Regulation” around an analysis of the political demand for and supply of regulation. Following the 50th anniversary of the 1971 paper, the contributors to this special issue evaluate the impact of his “Theory of Economic Regulation”, apply it to other policy questions, and summarize the literature produced in response to his original insight.