The four hundred thousand norms of spanish democracy. Quantification and impact of the regulatory complexity of Spain

Abstract

A regulatory framework that may be considered excessively "complex" can have potentially negative consequences for the Spanish economy and society. This article provides quantifications for the different perspectives from which this regulatory complexity can be measured and shows that, between 1979 and 2021, the administrations adopted 411,804 regulations. It also points out that there is a gradual worsening in the readability of the regulations for most of the Autonomous Regions and that in all of them the regulations are increasingly resorting to completing their content by referring to a greater number of other provisions. Specifically, the new regulations include an average of 11 links to other provisions. The paper goes on to point out that the complexity of Spanish regulation has negative implications for the economy and society. In particular, it negatively affects the volume (number) of businesses at the local level, productivity and the functioning of judicial bodies. Finally, this research reviews the initiatives aimed at achieving "better regulation", such as the Royal Decree 931/2017 and its regulatory impact analysis reports, and identifies some areas for improvement.