
Deregulation
The process of removing or reducing state regulations, proposed by DOGE as a key strategy to unlock economic growth in the United States.
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8/19/2025, 9:57:07 PM
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8/20/2025, 5:04:56 AM
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Summary
Deregulation is the process of reducing or removing government regulations, primarily in the economic sphere, which became prevalent in industrialized nations during the 1970s and 1980s. This trend emerged from a reevaluation of economic thinking, identifying inefficiencies and potential industry capture within government regulation. While initially implemented to address issues like corporate abuse and monopolies, regulations were later perceived as hindrances to economic growth, leading politicians advocating neoliberalism to promote deregulation. The primary argument for deregulation is that fewer and simpler regulations foster increased competitiveness, productivity, efficiency, and lower prices, though concerns about environmental degradation and financial instability persist. Regulatory reform, a parallel movement, focuses on systematically reviewing and simplifying regulations. In contemporary discussions, deregulation is linked to anticipated pro-growth agendas, such as the 'Trump Bump,' aiming to combat bureaucratic inefficiencies and influence areas like cryptocurrency regulation, the transformation of the defense tech sector, and the broader need for increased energy production. It also intersects with societal debates on corporate accountability and the for-profit healthcare system.
Referenced in 2 Documents
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
Definition
The process of removing or reducing state regulations, typically in the economic sphere.
Distinction
Distinct from privatization, which transfers state-owned businesses to the private sector.
Parallel Movement
Regulatory reform
Primary Rationale
Fewer and simpler regulations lead to raised levels of competitiveness, higher productivity, more efficiency, and lower prices.
Opponents' Concerns
Environmental pollution, financial uncertainty, constraining monopolies, potential harm to consumers, workers, and the environment.
Proponents' Arguments
Stimulates economic activity, increases competition, lowers costs of operating a business, creates more jobs, gives consumers more choice.
Common Era of Prevalence
1970s and 1980s
Key Initiatives/Bodies (UK)
Better Regulation Commission
Key Initiatives/Bodies (US)
Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, U.S. Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
Tools for Regulatory Review
Cost-benefit analysis, emissions trading
Associated Economic Philosophy
Neoliberalism
Contemporary Goal (US Politics)
Combat bureaucratic bloat
Contemporary Link (US Politics)
Anticipated pro-growth agendas, 'Trump Bump'
Timeline
- Deregulation became common in advanced industrial economies. (Source: Wikipedia, DBPedia)
1970s-1980s
- The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 was enacted, giving impetus to regulatory reform. (Source: Wikipedia, DBPedia)
1980-01-01
- Deregulation of the electricity sector in the U.S. began with the Energy Policy Act of 1992, eliminating obstacles for wholesale electricity competition. (Source: Wikipedia)
1992-01-01
Wikipedia
View on WikipediaDeregulation
Deregulation is the process of removing or reducing state regulations, typically in the economic sphere. It is the repeal of governmental regulation of the economy. It became common in advanced industrial economies in the 1970s and 1980s, as a result of new trends in economic thinking about the inefficiencies of government regulation, and the risk that regulatory agencies would be controlled by the regulated industry to its benefit, and thereby hurt consumers and the wider economy. Economic regulations were promoted during the Gilded Age, in which progressive reforms were claimed as necessary to limit externalities like corporate abuse, unsafe child labor, monopolization, and pollution, and to mitigate boom and bust cycles. Around the late 1970s, such reforms were deemed burdensome on economic growth and many politicians espousing neoliberalism started promoting deregulation. The stated rationale for deregulation is often that fewer and simpler regulations will lead to raised levels of competitiveness, therefore higher productivity, more efficiency and lower prices overall. Opposition to deregulation may involve apprehension regarding environmental pollution and environmental quality standards (such as the removal of regulations on hazardous materials), financial uncertainty, and constraining monopolies. Regulatory reform is a parallel development alongside deregulation. Regulatory reform refers to organized and ongoing programs to review regulations with a view to minimizing, simplifying, and making them more cost effective. Such efforts, given impetus by the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, are embodied in the United States Office of Management and Budget's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and the United Kingdom's Better Regulation Commission. Cost–benefit analysis is frequently used in such reviews. In addition, there have been regulatory innovations, usually suggested by economists, such as emissions trading. Deregulation can be distinguished from privatization, which transfers state-owned businesses to the private sector.
Web Search Results
- Deregulation - Overview, Benefits, Consequences, & Examples
Deregulation is the removal or reduction of government regulations in a specific industry. The goals are to allow industries to operate businesses more freely, make decisions efficiently, and remove corporate restrictions. Image 4: Deregulation - Image of the word deregulation alongside related business-related icons Overall, the main objective is to remove barriers to competition so that a particular industry can compete in the international market more easily. [...] The removal or reduction of government regulations in a specific industry Written byCFI Team Read Time 3 minutes Over 2 million + professionals use CFI to learn accounting, financial analysis, modeling and more. Unlock the essentials of corporate finance with our free resources and get an exclusive sneak peek at the first module of each course. Start Free Start Free What is Deregulation? --------------------- [...] Companies no longer need to utilize resources and capital to meet restrictions and comply with regulations. In turn, they can use the resources to invest in research and development. Businesses can operate without worrying about restrictions and regulations to govern them. They are allowed to develop new products, set their own prices, venture into foreign countries, purchase new assets, and interact with consumers without restrictions to hold them back.
- Economic Deregulation | Definition, History & Examples
What does deregulation mean? The deregulation definition refers to the decreasing or removing of regulations and policies within particular industries. It usually occurs within competitive industries where the forces of the free market will balance the economy of the system. This elimination of rules is most likely to happen in industries like transportation, utilities, and banking. The deregulation of banking would occur in the form of removing geographic limits and interest rate ceilings. The [...] Economic deregulation occurs when the government removes or reduces the restrictions in a particular industry to improve business operations and increase competition. The government removes certain regulations when businesses complain about how the regulation impedes their ability to compete. Industries that often experience deregulation are airline and other transportation, utilities, and banking. #### Register to view this lesson Are you a student or a teacher? [...] Stimulates Economic Activity: Deregulation benefits the economy since taxpayers no longer have to pay for the expenses of operating regulatory agencies. This means that consumers have more discretionary income, and more money to spend on other items. Discretionary income refers to funds that individuals are free to use at their own discretion. Deregulation further helps to increase the number of options and lower prices for consumers. The stimulation of economic activity is the foundation of
- Deregulation: Definition, History, Effects, and Purpose
The removal of government regulations or restrictions in a particular market, industry, or economy, intended to create more competition within an industry. What Is Deregulation? --------------------- Deregulation is the reduction or elimination of government oversight of an industry. Proponents of deregulation argue that deregulation creates more competition and spurs economic growth. Opponents assert that deregulation risks grave harm to consumers, workers, and the environment. [...] Proponents say removing regulations allows businesses to operate more freely, stimulates the economy, and creates more jobs. Opponents suggest that deregulation hurts consumers and workers. The financial industry has undergone spurts of deregulation and re-regulation throughout the past century. Understanding Deregulation -------------------------- Deregulation involves removing government regulations and restrictions within an industry, at the federal, state, or local level. [...] Deregulation lowers the costs of operating a business, allows more competitors to enter a market, and lowers prices for consumers. These factors can help stimulate efficiency and lead to increased economic growth. That's the upside. The downside is the potential for harm to consumers, workers, and the environment if businesses ar allowed to operate entirely without oversight. Sponsored Discover a better way to trade ."
- Deregulation | Definition, Benefits, & Drawbacks
# Deregulation October 25, 2022 Author: Zach Stein ## Deregulation Defined Deregulation is the process of removing government-imposed barriers to entry or competition in a particular industry. It allows companies to enter an industry without obtaining a government license or permit. The two main reasons for deregulation are promoting competition and lowering prices. ### Promote Competition [...] Deregulation is a complex issue with no easy answers. It is important to weigh the pros and cons carefully before making any decisions. ## FAQs ### 1. What is deregulation? Deregulation is the process of eliminating government regulations on an industry. ### 2. What are the benefits of deregulation? The benefits of deregulation include stimulating economic activity, increasing competition, and giving consumers more choice. ### 3. What are the drawbacks of deregulation? [...] Deregulation is intended to promote competition. By removing barriers to entry, it allows new companies to enter the market and compete against existing companies. This can lead to improved quality of products and services. ### Lower Prices Deregulation can also lead to lower prices for consumers. When there is more competition in an industry, companies are typically forced to lower their prices in order to attract and retain customers.
- Deregulation
The stated rationale for deregulation is often that fewer and simpler regulations will lead to raised levels of competitiveness, therefore higher productivity "Productivity (economics)"), more efficiency and lower prices overall. Opposition to deregulation may involve apprehension regarding environmental pollution and environmental quality standards (such as the removal of regulations on hazardous materials), financial uncertainty, and constraining monopolies. [...] Deregulation was put into effect in the communications industry by the government at the start of the Multi-Channel Transition era. This deregulation put into place a division of labor between the studios and the networks. Communications in the United States (and internationally) are areas in which both technology and regulatory policy have been in flux. The rapid development of computer and communications technology – particularly the Internet – have increased the size and variety of [...] Deregulation of the electricity sector in the U.S. began in 1992. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 eliminated obstacles for wholesale electricity competition, but deregulation has yet to be introduced in all states. As of April 2014, 16 U.S. states (Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York "New York (state)"), Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Texas) and the District of Columbia have introduced deregulated
DBPedia
View on DBPediaDeregulation is the process of removing or reducing state regulations, typically in the economic sphere. It is the repeal of governmental regulation of the economy. It became common in advanced industrial economies in the 1970s and 1980s, as a result of new trends in economic thinking about the inefficiencies of government regulation, and the risk that regulatory agencies would be controlled by the regulated industry to its benefit, and thereby hurt consumers and the wider economy. Economic regulations were promoted during the Gilded Age, in which progressive reforms were touted as necessary to limit externalities like corporate abuse, unsafe child labor, monopolization, pollution, and to mitigate boom and bust cycles. Around the late 1970s, such reforms were deemed burdensome on economic growth and many politicians espousing neoliberalism started promoting deregulation. The stated rationale for deregulation is often that fewer and simpler regulations will lead to raised levels of competitiveness, therefore higher productivity, more efficiency and lower prices overall. Opposition to deregulation may involve apprehension regarding environmental pollution and environmental quality standards (such as the removal of regulations on hazardous materials), financial uncertainty, and constraining monopolies. Regulatory reform is a parallel development alongside deregulation. Regulatory reform refers to organized and ongoing programs to review regulations with a view to minimizing, simplifying, and making them more cost effective. Such efforts, given impetus by the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, are embodied in the United States Office of Management and Budget's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and the United Kingdom's Better Regulation Commission. Cost–benefit analysis is frequently used in such reviews. In addition, there have been regulatory innovations, usually suggested by economists, such as emissions trading. Deregulation can be distinguished from privatization, which transfers state-owned businesses to the private sector.
