Iranian Journal of Public Policy

Iranian Journal of Public Policy

Analysing the Regulatory Network from the Perspective of Regulator Independence (Case Study: The Communications Regulatory Authority of Iran)

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
Mozhdeh Nateghi 1
Vajhola Ghorbanizadeh 2
Hosein Aslipoor 3
Seyed Mohammed Sadegh Emammian 4
1 Ph.D. Student of Public Policy, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran
2 Professor of Public Administration, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran
3 Associate Professor of Public Policy, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran School of Management and Accounting Allameh Tabataba'i University
4 Assistant Professor Of Science and Technology Policy Making, Faculty of Management, Science and Technology, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
10.22059/jppolicy.2026.106367
Abstract
In recent decades, with the shift from interventionist government to regulatory state, regulatory authorities have emerged as key actors in governance. A core feature of these institutions is their de facto independence in formulating and implementing their preferences without undue influence or dependence on other actors, including policymakers, parallel regulators, and regulatees. This study aims to assess the level of de facto independence of the Communications Regulatory Authority in three domains: communications, radio frequency spectrum, and postal services. The research employs social network analysis and is based on data collected through expert-completed questionnaires and the analysis of actor influence matrices. The findings indicate that the regulator does not enjoy full independence in any of the three areas; however, it is relatively more independent in the radio spectrum domain and more dependent in the postal sector. The results underscore the need to strengthen institutional mechanisms to enhance the operational autonomy of the regulatory body.
Keywords
Regulation
Regulator Independence
De Facto Regulator Independence
Social Network Analysis
Communications Regulation
  1. Badran, A. (2017). Revisiting regulatory independence: The relationship between the formal and de-facto independence of the Egyptian telecoms regulator. Public Policy and Administration, 32(1), 66–84. https://doi.org/10.1177/0952076716643381
  2. Correa, P., Pereira, C., Mueller, B., & Melo, M. (2006). Regulatory governance in infrastructure industries: Assessment and measurement of Brazilian regulators. Washington, DC: World Bank. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-0-8213-6609-7
  3. Coroado, S. (2020). Does formal independence of regulators change? Evidence from Portuguese agencies. Governance, 33(1), 61–77. https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12413
  4. Council of Ministers. (2003). Statute of the Communications Regulatory Authority. {In Persian}
  5. Cukierman, A., Web, S. B., & Neyapti, B. (1992). Measuring the Independence of Central Banks and Its Effect on Policy Outcomes. The World Bank Economic Review, 6(3), 353–398. https://doi.org/10.1093/wber/6.3.353
  6. Cukierman, A., Webb, S. B., & Neyapti, B. (1995). Measuring the independence of central banks: A review of recent developments. World Bank Economic Review, 9(3), 453-470
  7. Dabrowski, M. (2021). Two Major Economic Crises in the Early Twenty-First Century and their Impact on Central Bank Independence.
  8. Dasgupta, S. (2009). Regulatory independence and performance: A comparative study of the UK and French telecommunications sectors. PhD thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science.
  9. Elgie, R., & McMENAMIN, I. (2005). Credible Commitment, Political Uncertainty or Policy Complexity? Explaining Variations in the Independence of Non-majoritarian Institutions in France. British Journal of Political Science, 35(3), 531–548. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123405000281
  10. Fernández-i-Marín, X., Jordana, J., & Bianculli, A. C. (2016). Are regulatory agencies independent in practice? Evidence from board members in Spain: Are regulatory agencies independent in practice? Regulation & Governance, 10(3), 230–247. https://doi.org/10.1111/rego.12084
  11. Gilardi, F. (2002). Policy credibility and delegation to independent regulatory agencies: A comparative empirical analysis. Journal of European Public Policy, 9(6), Article 6. https://doi.org/10/fmjjd6
  12. Gilardi, F. (2008). Delegation in the regulatory state: Independent regulatory agencies in Western Europe. Edward Elgar.
  13. González, C. I., & Verhoest, K. (2020). De facto regulatory decision-making processes in telecommunications regulation: Explaining influence relationships with exponential random graph models. Journal of Public Policy, 40(1), 144–170. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0143814X18000272
  14. Governance & Policy Think Tank. (2017). Media Regulatory System. {In Persian}
  15. Gutiérrez, L. H. (2003). Regulatory governance in the Latin American telecommunications sector. Utilities Policy, 11(4), 225–240. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0957-1787(03)00062-6
  16. Hanretty, C., & Koop, C. (2013). Shall the law set them free? The formal and actual independence of regulatory agencies: Formal and actual agency independence. Regulation & Governance, 7(2), 195–214. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-5991.2012.01156.x
  17. Ingold, K., Varone, F., & Stokman, F. (2013). A social network-based approach to assess de facto independence of regulatory agencies. Journal of European Public Policy, 20(10), 1464–1481. https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2013.804280
  18. Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament of Iran). (2000). Third Economic, Social, and Cultural Development Plan of the Islamic Republic of Iran. {In Persian}
  19. Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament of Iran). (2003). Law on the Duties and Authorities of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. {In Persian}
  20. Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament of Iran). (2007). Law on the Implementation of the General Policies of Article 44 of the Constitution. {In Persian}
  21. Jordana, J., Fernández-i-Marín, X., & Bianculli, A. C. (2018). Agency proliferation and the globalization of the regulatory state: Introducing a data set on the institutional features of regulatory agencies. Regulation & Governance, 12(4), 524–540.
  22. Juwayeyi, M. M. (2017). The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority: Issues of De Jure and De Facto Independence. Communication Law and Policy, 22(2), 213–253. https://doi.org/10.1080/10811680.2017.1290989
  23. Kessides, I. N. (2004). Reforming infrastructure: Privatization, regulation, and competition. Washington, DC: World Bank and Oxford University Press.
  24. Koop, C., & Kessler, P. (2021). Keeping control of regulation? Domestic constraints on the creation of independent authorities in emerging and developing economies. Governance, 34(2), 545–564. https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12523
  25. Koske, I., Naru, F., Beiter, P., & Wanner, I. (2016). Regulatory management practices in OECD countries. OECD Economics Department Working Paper No. 1296
  26. Kumar, S. (2022). Taking root: Independent Regulatory Agency model of regulation in Indian electricity sector. Energy Policy, 164, 112863. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2022.112863
  27. Levi-Faur, D. (Ed.). (2011). Handbook on the politics of regulation. Edward Elgar.
  28. Maggetti, M. (2007). De facto independence after delegation: A fuzzy-set analysis. Regulation & Governance, 1(4), 271–294. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-5991.2007.00023.x
  29. Majone, G. (1994). The rise of the regulatory state in Europe. West European Politics, 17(3), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1080/01402389408425031
  30. Majone, G. (1997). From the Positive to the Regulatory State: Causes and Consequences of Changes in the Mode of Governance’,. Journal of Public Policy, 139–167.
  31. Mohammadi Kangarani, H., & Rafsanjani Nejad, S. (2015). Power Structure in the Policy and Water Management Network in the Fourth Development Plan of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Public Policy, 1(3), 121–138. https://doi.org/10.22059/ppolicy.2015.57682. {In Persian}
  32. Oftadeh, J. (2014). Social Network Analysis. Tehran: Sanieh Publishing. {In Persian}
  33. Peci, A., De Menezes Santos, A., & Pino Oliveira De Araújo, B. C. (2022). Quo Vadis ? Career paths of Brazilian regulators. Regulation & Governance, 16(2), 470–486. https://doi.org/10.1111/rego.12348
  34. Ruffing, E., Weinrich, M., Rittberger, B., & Wonka, A. (2024). The European administrative space over time: Mapping the formal independence of EU agencies. Regulation & Governance, 18(3), 740–760. https://doi.org/10.1111/rego.12556
  35. Sezen, S. (2007). Independent regulatory agencies in Turkey: Are they really autonomous? Public Administration and Development. https://doi.org/10.1002/pad.448
  36. Stern, J., & Holder, S. (1999). Regulatory governance: Criteria for assessing the performance of regulatory systems An application to infrastructure industries in the developing countries of Asia. Utilities Policy, 18.
  37. Thatcher, M. (2002). Delegation to Independent Regulatory Agencies: Pressures, Functions and Contextual Mediation. West European Politics, 25(1), 125–147. https://doi.org/10.1080/713601588
  38. Wassum, M., & De Francesco, F. (2020). Explaining regulatory autonomy in EU network sectors: Varieties of utility regulation? Governance, 33(1), 41–60. https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12437
Iranian Journal of Public Policy
Volume 12, Issue 1
Winter 2026
Pages 30-50