Risk regulation strategies in public emergency management - a learning perspective

摘要

The aim of this study is to explore how risk regulation strategies in the public sector contribute to learning within emergency management. Strategies applied by the regulator entail diverse activities involving interaction and communication between regulator and regulatee. The paper explores learning aspects related to these activities. The paper is based on a multiple case study within the Norwegian public sector including six municipalities and their regulatory authority, responsible for regulating and inspecting municipal emergency management. The results showed that risk regulation through compliance strategies implied second-order learning processes within those regulated. Risk regulation through deterrence strategies contributed to compliance with regulatory demands, but only implied first-order learning process.