Re­gu­la­to­ry eco­no­mics and re­gu­la­to­ry im­pact ana­ly­sis

Are you responsible for regulatory tasks in administration or companies? We are experts in regulatory economics with many years’ experience and advise you regarding the introduction, implementation, adjustment and evaluation of regulatory frameworks. Both companies and consumers benefit from well-functioning regulations. The art lies in introducing regulations that meet the political targets with the least amount of rules and without any disincentives. Whether a public authority aims to develop an optimal regulatory framework or a company plans to implement regulatory requirements, we advise you in finding the best possible solution. We evaluate planned or existing regulations with regard to necessity, practicability and their impact.

In­sti­tu­tio­nal ro­le con­flicts (go­ver­nan­ce is­sues)

We support you with potential competition conflicts related to your service obligation. We advise you in your risk assessment and clarify your competitive risks from transactions with public or publicly dominated companies. Answering additional institutional questions or questions regarding the separation of roles between regulation, management and supervision is part of our advisory services.

Se­cu­ri­ty of sup­p­ly

Ensuring the security of supply is becoming an increasingly important political topic, especially with regard to health, nutrition, energy and mobility. We are experts in the quantitative method that can be used for performing social cost-benefit analyses. We determine how much different groups of the population are willing to pay for particular security of supply levels and what measures can realise them efficiently. In doing so, we examine the design, allocation and financing of these measures

Re­gu­la­to­ry eco­no­mics

We examine how different types of market regulations and market designs affect competition and regulated companies. Our analysis for the introduction or abolition of specific regulatory measures provides you with a well-founded basis for your decisions. We advise you regarding the best-practice implementation of price, incentive and cost regulations. We also advise you on appeals against conditions imposed by regulatory authorities.

Re­gu­la­to­ry im­pact ana­ly­sis

We use economically substantiated effect models to determine the impact of regulations on the relevant social groups and the interaction with the overall economy. With tailored tools, we evaluate how regulatory measures affect markets and consumer welfare. We check if alternative measures would meet the regulatory targets more effectively and efficiently and advise public authorities how to reduce the burden of regulations placed on SMEs.

Some of our projects

Primary electricity supply regulation

Electricity market, StromVG, ‘WAS’ model, Swiss Federal Office of Energy

Study for the Swiss Federal Office of Energy on the configuration of primary and backup supply in selected countries in light of liberalisation of the electricity market.

Swiss markets for technical data

Data economy, survey, competition economy, access regulation

Economic analysis of the way Swiss markets for technical data function, in consideration of the corporate landscape. By order of the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property

Regulation benchmarking

Regulation index, banking regulation, international comparison

Determining and structuring the financial market regulation of selected countries and comparing the effect on competition by means of benchmarking. On behalf of a Swiss think tank.

Regulation brake

Regulation brake, evaluation

Regulation brake in the Canton of Zurich Evaluation of the practicability of various regulation brake instruments.

Regulation impact assessment – energy

Scenario analysis, regulation design, Excel model

Creating an Excel model to assess the financial consequences of the regulatory framework on companies in the industry. On behalf of the Association of Austrian Electricity Companies, to serve as a basis for discussions with the regulatory authorities.

Regulatory impact analysis of a reference price system for generics

Regulation impact analysis, pharmaceuticals market, reference price system

Regulation impact analysis regarding the implementation of a reference price system in the Swiss market for patent-expired pharmaceuticals. Commissioned by the Federal Office of Public Health and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.

Regulation index – telecommunications

Price regulation, market entry regulation, country comparison

Creating a regulation density index for the telecommunications industry with a total of 41 indicators, for 32 countries, over 14 years. This index is used to investigate the impact of regulatory density on investment and innovation incentives of telecommunications companies.

Improvement of Swiss patent system

Patent system, international comparison, discussion with experts

Economic study of the Swiss patent system for the Federal Institute of Intellectual Property. Developing reform proposals on the basis of international experience, structured expert interviews and an online survey.

Dr. Yves Schneider

+41 62 205 15 88

Patrick Zenhäusern

+41 62 205 15 76

Partners

Prof. Dr. Johannes M. Bauer, Michigan State University, USA - Dr. Wolfgang Briglauer, Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, Austria - Prof. Dr. Gert Brunekreeft, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany - Prof. Dr. Georg Götz, University of Giessen, Germany - Prof. Dr. Klaus Gugler, Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, Austria - Prof. Dr. Raul Katz, Columbia Business School, NY, USA - Prof. Dr. Mario Liebensteiner, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany

Publications

Sur­vey on non-per­so­nal and per­so­nal da­ta

How do Swiss companies handle non-personal and personal data? Is there a market for data, and in which areas do companies see a need for action? To answer these questions, the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) commissioned Polynomics to conduct a survey of around 800 companies.Key findings on non-personal data: Despite an increase in data generation, its economic importance has declined. Although companies now have a better understanding of which non-personal data are available, they are used and demanded less than five years ago. Accordingly, the trade in such data has also lost importance.Key findings on personal data: Companies collect large amounts of personal data but make little use of them to develop new products or services. Demand and trade in personal data are low. Companies rarely share personal data; when they do, they are more likely to share it with public authorities or the research community than with commercial third parties.Overall, companies face few barriers to data access and do not actively call for additional regulations.

Non-Im­ple­men­ta­ti­on of CBAM – Im­pli­ca­ti­ons for the Ce­ment In­dus­try and the En­vi­ron­ment

What impact will the renunciation of a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) have on the Swiss cement industry and thus on the achievement of Switzerland's net zero targets?A Swiss CBAM means that Swiss builders have to take CO₂ costs into account in all their cement purchasing options: they can either buy CO₂-free cement or the CO₂ content in the cement is internalised via the CBAM levy or through the purchase of emission certificates.Without a Swiss CBAM, or without other measures with a comparable effect, there is a risk that the cement industry or clinker production moving abroad. As long as builders are not willing to pay a significant premium for CO₂-free cement, CO₂-contaminated cement will continue to be used in Switzerland in future. This would jeopardise the achievement of the net-zero target.A Swiss CBAM does not protect the domestic cement industry. Builders can still import cement from Europe or third countries. However, since the same system of CO₂ emission rights exists in Europe and for imports from third countries, the CBAM surcharge at the border would create a level playing field for EU, non-EU and Swiss cement suppliers.

Par­ti­al re­vi­si­on of the Pa­tents Act (Re­gu­la­to­ry Im­pact Ana­ly­sis (RIA) II)

In the context of the consultation on the preliminary draft of the partial revision of the Federal Act on Patents for Inventions Act carried out in 2020/2021, the general idea of the introduction of a full examination is supported. However, the advantages of the existing system of partial examination should also be retained. Furthermore, it is suggested to dispense with an objection procedure and to allow a direct appeal to the Federal Patent Court (FPatC). We have carried out a further regulatory impact analysis on the correspondingly revised draft. An important result of this study is that, compared to the status quo, the new reform proposal would at most double the workload and thus the number of staff in the area of patent examination and granting at the IPI

Angebote

En­er­gy sup­p­ly

He­alth­ca­re

Fi­nan­cial sec­tor

Me­dia and te­le­com­mu­ni­ca­ti­ons

Com­pe­ti­ti­on eco­no­mics

Re­gu­la­to­ry eco­no­mics and re­gu­la­to­ry im­pact ana­ly­sis

Eco­no­mic po­li­cy ana­ly­ses

Da­ta ana­ly­sis

Bench­mar­king / Ef­fi­ci­en­cy ana­ly­sis

Cos­ting and pri­cing

Pre­fe­rence me­a­su­re­ment / Dis­crete choice ex­pe­ri­ment