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Towards a Semiology of the Periodic Review of UK Regulated Utilities
Author(s) -
Cooper Stuart,
Crowther David,
Carter Chris
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
financial accountability and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.661
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1468-0408
pISSN - 0267-4424
DOI - 10.1111/1468-0408.00132
Subject(s) - covert , process (computing) , semiology , political science , economics , law and economics , positive economics , linguistics , psychology , computer science , philosophy , neuroscience , epilepsy , operating system
This note explores the regulatory process of UK privatised utilities through the periodic review of prices. It provides a brief history of the privatisation programme in the UK and the theoretical arguments for the price‐cap regulation that has been used. It argues that regulatory process appears to involve a covert dialogue and exchange of information between the regulator and regulated and also a second separate review process that consists of an overt dialogue. Using a semiotic analysis the authors suggest that the unfolding of each of these overt reviews follows a very similar pattern that is constantly being re‐enacted. It is concluded that further research is required into the relative importance of the two separate review processes in the setting of the price‐cap.