This three volume set offers an extensive collection of the most significant articles which investigate the foundations of past and current thinking on regulatory economics. The papers cover more than 150 years of contributions to the subject and range from the earliest discussions of controlled markets to some very recent developments. The emphasis of the volumes is on historical, conceptual and empirical studies of regulation: Volume I is devoted to the origins and development of regulatory theory and practice; Volume II examines contemporary theories of regulation; and Volume III addresses issues related to regulation and deregulation and offers some empirical studies of the effects of regulation in past and present markets.

In addition to a comprehensive guide to the articles included in his selection, the editor has also written a scholarly introduction, which provides the reader with a short history of the development of ideas on regulatory economics and the establishment of institutions connected with regulation.