RIA can be called a decision tool. It helps governments take action by systematically examining impacts that may arise out of an action taken by the government. Looking at the results of the analysis, governments can decide if they should go ahead with the plan or tweak it a little.

Its role, design and objectives generally differ from country to country and policy to policy. In simple words, it is a decision method out of several decision methods. However, the fact that it gives reliable results has helped it become one of the most widely accepted decision methods. Many countries and organizations consider it a best practice to use RIA when making decisions.

A proper method of assessing and then taking decision in the light of the facts/research is followed by countries. Generally, the technique is similar in most countries; however, there may be a few differences.

The methods used by most countries, including OECD countries, can be broken into five categories explained below:

Expert

The person who has the understanding of the scenario is considered an expert. He or she has the power to reach a decision regarding the problem or scenario that is being discussed. Generally, a regulator or an external expert is selected for this purpose. An expert is chosen with care as he or she has huge responsibility.

The expert should be well experienced with an eye for things. Plus, he or she should be able to take decisions properly without being biased.

Consensus

Decisions regarding future policies and other matters are taken with mutual consent. Stakeholders sit together to reach a conclusion in the light of the facts. It is taken care of that everyone is satisfied with the final decision and there is no coercion or forceful will involved.

Political

The decision is taken with care making sure that there is no biasness involved. Those in power take decision with a bonafide view putting the well being of the nation and its residents first. If the decision may cause huge damages, it is not taken even if there is any sort of political pressure. This is why the decisions are generally taken by a panel and not individuals so that such risks are minimized.

Benchmarking

In most scenarios, the verdict is taken on dependence on an outside model keeping the compliance issues in mind. Old cases and precedents are also considered.

Empirical

The decision is taken purely on the basis of the facts found through the analysis that clearly defines the action parameters as per the established criteria.

Every decision stems from a mixture of these methods. The mix differs according to political traditions, administrative style, issues in hand and national culture. For example, the Netherlands generally depend more on consensus methods in comparison to other countries like the US that depends more on empirical methods.

Several governments have defined four chief objectives that act in response to the pressures the governments face. They include:

Improve the Understanding of Impacts of Action

The main objective of RIA is to understand the real-world impact of the decision, including both the cost and the benefits of the decision. Many countries tend to use an empirical approach due to concerns about efficiency.

Decisions are not only taken based on how beneficial they will be, but the cost associated is also paid attention to. Gone are the days when nations would take decisions looking at one factor only. They now use a different approach for better results.

RIA can tell governments about every detail of a decision. For example: the ‘‘Locally Adapted Regulatory Impact Analysis’’ process used by the Norwegian State Pollution Control Authority weighs all regulatory options to tackle a problem.

Integrate Numerous Policy Objectives

The decision making procedure is becoming complex day by day. Regulators face the huge challenge of integrating numerous policies that may affect one another. In order to perform their jobs better regulators should not only know their own objectives but also of other effects, including those on trade, environment and equity.

Experts recommend understanding policy links and to manage policy trade-offs in a better way. Regulatory Impact Analysis can also be used as an integrating framework to expose linkages among policies so that decision makers can weigh trade-offs properly.

This quality makes RIA a coordination tool as well. RIA is being used to evaluate a broad range of regulatory impacts across policy areas.

Improve Transparency and Consultation

Many countries now believe in participative and open decision making. Governments these days are using different methods to allow concerned groups wider access to the processes so that transparency and responsiveness are maintained.

RIA shows the impacts of decisions and is often closely linked to procedures of public consultation. Consultation is often made around RIA documents that tell the effects and goals of proposed changes.

Improve Government Accountability

RIA can perk up the participation and accountability of decision-makers by the reporting of wide information and representing how decisions help the public.

The priority placed on improved regulatory analysis in the US reflects a strong faith that regulators would not truly be held answerable to the electorate until the results of their actions were known.

Many RIA programs are intended to enable decision makers to comprehend and take accountability for regulatory judgments.

These are some of the main objectives of an RIA program. In simple words, the main aim is to make decisions that benefit society. RIA helps governments understand the impact of a decision from all perspectives making it easier for them to make the right call.

So, why should there be trade laws and regulations? Simply because they are very important. Highlighted below are some of the reasons why one cannot have a world without such rules and regulations in place.

-   If there are no trade laws and regulations, the gap between developed and developing countries will widen as the more powerful countries will not let the weaker countries have any share of the cake. For example: Without trade rules and regulations, a bigger country, such as the US, will be in a position to flood all markets with its products without having to answer to any organization. Such a move may stop any smaller country to make its products accessible to others, thus destroying its chances of increasing exports that are very important for a country’s growth. This way the US would continue to grow with its products reaching far and beyond and the smaller country will have to fight even harder to get its products sold in the international markets.

-   One of the biggest advantages of having rules and regulations is that they help maintain peace in the world and also help in the settlement of trade related disputes. It is very common for countries to be at loggerheads due to trade related issues. Without rules and regulations in place they may get into trouble with their relationships souring. However, thanks to laws and regulations they know which route to go in case such a problem arises. They can simply file a dispute with the WTO and then let the experts decide on the case in the light of facts. Countries have to respect the decision that is announced so that there is no need for either of the parties to sour their relationship.

-    Laws and regulations not only help individual nations but help the people of the world as a whole as well. Due to these regulations, there is peace in the world and every country is working toward improving its conditions allowing it to achieve a better living standard and provide more facilities to its residents. Due to such trade rules and regulations, people all around the world can enjoy international products and improve their living style.

The importance of trade laws and regulations is clear from the above mentioned point. The main purpose of any law is to give people a framework that has to be followed in relevant actions. Laws also highlight the punishment or reward of not obeying the regulations.

Trade organizations are performing their jobs by creating laws and regulations and monitoring countries for implementation of the laws. It is their duty to create laws that benefit all the countries and are not biased towards anyone. Additionally, they also need to make sure that all the rules and regulations are implemented.

The two share a close relationship with the US reaching to the organization to settle its disputes. It has filed disputes against several countries including Indonesia, China and India to settle trade related issues. It has also been a part of 119 cases as a respondent and more than a hundred cases as a third party.

The country has always been a big supporter of the organization and believes in bringing peace and harmony in the country, which is not possible until strong trade rules and regulations are created and implemented.

The United States is a member of these groups in the negotiations:

> APEC

> Friends of Ambition (NAMA)

> Friends of Fish (FoFs)

> Joint proposal (in intellectual property)

Nonetheless, in the country the WTO is not always looked as a respected organization by various groups. There lies a section of people that is against the WTO’s stipulations and laws and considers it a reason for the gradual downfall of the US economy.

Some reasons why many people in the US are against WTO are:

-   The organization allows some countries to use protection while some countries cannot do so. This law has caused several issues in the US as the country cannot put tariffs against Chinese imports whereas China has the right to do so. This has been a major bone of contention as many people are of the view that laws like these prevent the US economy from flourishing while allowing other countries to succeed.

-    The World Trade Organization is a legal entity and is not accountable to anyone, not even the member nations. The organization holds a lot of power that goes completely unchecked. Due to this reason a great number of people want the US to cut ties with the organization so that it is not controlled by it. Many have even gone to the extent of calling the US a puppet in the hands of the WTO.

-    One of the biggest concerns is the power that the WTO gives to global corporations. Under certain conditions, corporations have the right to sue actual nations putting their sovereignty on the line. Many experts say that giant corporations can use the power invested in them to bend countries according to their will and cause troubles.

Conversely, there are people who do have faith in the organization, which is why the US continues to be a member of the WTO. It cannot be denied that the country has greatly benefitted from its membership as well.

Being a member allows the US to reach to new markets. At the same time the problem related with disputes has been handled as well as the WTO deals with the trade related disputes to find justified solutions.

Highlighted below are five such businesses that require personal behavioral data.

Entertainment Industry

Entertainment industry including music and movie industries need behavioral data so that they can produce dramas or movies that people like. For example: If the data indicates that people like romantic movies or the trend of action movies is in then producers can concentrate on cashing in on them and avoid other genres.

This is a strong marketing strategy that helps industry insiders predict the future as well.

Advertisers

Advertisers need behavioral data so that they can target people accordingly and get desired results. The main purpose of advertisement is to grab attention so that eventually sales can increase, which result in an increased profit. This cannot be done until advertisers are aware of the people’s behavior.

For example: In online advertising, CTR (click to ratio) rate is counted which helps advertisers know how many people actually click on their advertisements. By knowing such numbers they can decide from which website they will receive maximum advertisements.

Publishers

Just like advertisers, publishers also keep such information very dear. This helps them serve advertisers in a better way. Publishers know what kind of advertisement visitors like or which places generate maximum impressions (the number of times a person sees an advertisement). This helps publishers create packages.

This also allows publishers to control information in a better way. For example: If they notice that users are not clicking on any specific advertisement they will realize that there is something  wrong with it and they can make changes accordingly.

Technology

The technological industry also needs behavioral data. Technological advancements are generally made keeping viewer’s behavior and needs in mind. For example: Fans are believed to have been invented realizing how people needed to cool themselves in warm temperatures. By noticing this behavior, scientists and experts worked even more and came up with air conditioners that serve the same purpose but in a better way.

Other Businesses

All other businesses also need personal data. The main reason is the fact that every business tries to maximize profit which is not possible until they are aware of customers’ behavior and needs. Production, which at times is done in advance, is also based on behavioral data to a great extent. Information gathered helps producers know what kind of items people want and in what quantity so that they can produce at the right level and do not have to face any kind of loss.

These are some of the industries that use behavioral data. It will not be wrong to state that almost every industry needs it for one reason or another because at the end of the day this is what one needs in order to cater to customers in a better way.

With time, trade regulations also rose as a law field educating people about the trade regulations, their use and practice. The field tells people about the unfair practices so that they learn about competition and other trade related issues.

Currently there are several organizations playing such roles and making trade regulations. Two of the most famous and well-recognized organizations include:

-   World Trade Organization (WTO)

The WTO is an organization that aims to supervise and liberalize trade among nations. Initiated on January 1^st, 1995, it is the most well recognized trade regulations organization in the world with 158 member states. However, due to its decisions the organization often falls victim to criticism from different sectors. Nonetheless, its role and importance cannot be neglected.

The organization’s main objective is to give countries a framework that they follow so that they can prosper. It appreciates free trade among nations and has a set of rules and regulations in place that have to be followed by all member nations. As per the rules, all countries are to be treated equally and be given the same rights so that they can utilize their resources to move ahead in the race.

The WTO also gives its members the right to settle disputes through a proper channel in case a problem arises. With its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the organization has its presence around the world and has over 600 employees working for it.

-  Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD)

The organization initiated in 1948 mainly to administer the Marshall Plan to reconstruct Europe that was suffering from the aftermaths of World War II. The organization’s head quarter is stationed in Paris, France with membership of 24 countries.

Its main objective is to help improve countries’ economic conditions through trade. The organization defines itself as a forum of countries committed to democracy and the market economy, providing a setting to compare policy experiences, seek answers to common problems, identify good practices, and co-ordinate domestic and international policies.

It creates policies to help countries achieve higher standards so that their economic conditions can improve. The organization also publishes several hundred books every year and conducts meetings regularly to discuss the changing economic scenario so that policies can be created in the light of them.

There are many benefits of having such trade regulations in place. They are advantageous for both developed and developing countries as they secure everyone’s rights believing in equality.

Due to its policies, small and developing countries like Bangladesh are able to send their goods to far off countries in Europe and America. It also ensures that competition is fairly handled with no one getting robbed of their due share.

Trade regulations also allow for a smooth flow and results in less disputes because there is a set of regulations that nations follow in case any such problem arises. Many people credit such organizations for growing peace as they help improve relationships among countries.

Wars have been happening for years for one reason or another. Yet, the brutality has only increased with powerful countries using all their might to destroy their counterparts.

Peace activists have been trying for years to stop wars in countries like Philistine, Kashmir, Iraq and other war hit regions. Many have given best practices that should be followed. Some of the best ideas are summarized below in five headings.

Peace Offers

History teaches us that war is hardly the solution. The US attacked Iraq and Afghanistan which led to a decade of brutal casualties. The best practice is to avoid wars, if possible, and find a concrete solution. Arbitration and reaching a mutual resolution is the best option.

India and Pakistan can be taken as a good example. The neighboring countries have had a few wars, but ultimately they resorted to peace talks and the situation is slowly improving. Other nations like Israel and America should also encourage such discussions so that international peace can be maintained.

No Innocent Killing

One of the biggest disadvantages of wars is that it ends up killing a lot of innocent people. As per a report released by the UN, military conflicts kill more than 1000 people every year including civilians.

Missiles, guns and rockets do not see whom they are hitting. Quite often than not innocent children and women also become victim to these attacks without any fault of their own. Countries should make sure they stay away from such homicide and fight with prestige keeping human rights in mind.

Safe Passage

This practice should be applied wherever possible. Giving a safe passage to innocent people is beneficial for everyone involved in a war. Those that are not related to the war in any way should be allowed to get refuge elsewhere so that they do not get killed.

No Stringent Policies

They say “all is fair in war”. Nonetheless, most people do not agree with this statement because they emphasize on following human right issues even when a war is going on. Organizations like the UN speak highly against countries that do not let its activists provide food, healthcare and other needed things to war victims.

The aim of a war should not be to wipe out everyone, but instead just wrongdoers. People on both sides should respect this fact.

End It

As mentioned above, wars are devastating for everyone. History suggests that they haven’t brought good to any party for a long period. They often get extended for a long time. The India-Kashmir conflict, Israel-Palestine and America-Vietnam conflict are some of the examples of extended wars. They only result in more killings and wastage of resources.

Wars should be fought with an aim to end them. The solution is to have a table talk so that a mutual solution can be reached. Massacres or use of heavy weapons to put an end to it for good should strictly be prohibited.

The organization currently has 157 member states that follow its framework. It understands the need for regulations and has a set of principles that must be followed by member nations. They are explained below in detail:

Non-Discrimination

The organization has ‘national treatment policy’ and ‘most favored nation’ rule that are embedded in the organization’s main set of laws on services, goods and also intellectual property. As per the rules and regulations under the most favored nation, a WTO member is required to apply the similar conditions on all kinds of trade with any other member of the organization.

I.e.: If a country gives any kind of special favor to a member country then it must give the same favor to other member countries. This means that a country cannot give any kind of trade related favor to a country on grounds such as friendship etc. because as per the WTO all the countries are equal and should be treated that way.

In the same way the national treatment policy also guards countries’ rights. As per the policy, the imported goods should enjoy the same rights or be treated in the same way as the goods produced in the country. The aim of this policy is mainly to control trade barriers such as technical and security standards that stop a country from reaching other markets and growing.

Reciprocity

Reciprocity is mainly there to control free-riding, which is a situation in which a country or organization enjoys benefits without putting in efforts. Since free-riding may be caused by national treatment policy, the WTO has strict sets of laws to control it.

The main aim of reciprocity is to allow a country’s own corporations to grow and nurture. For a nation to bargain, it is important that its growth is larger than the growth it may enjoy from unilateral liberalization. The main function of reciprocity is to make sure that countries meet this requirement.

Binding and Enforceable Commitments

World Trade Organization’s members prepare tariff commitments that are spelt out in a detailed schedule. The points tell about multilateral trade negotiations so that problems regarding such trade can be easily solved.

These schedules are used to create boundaries or ceilings that every member country must adhere to. However, if a country feels the need to change its limitations, it has the right to apply for a change in the schedule. Nonetheless, the country needs to negotiate with other trading partners and reach a settlement with their consent making sure that no country has to face any kind of loss due to the change. Yet, if that does not result in satisfaction the country has the right to opt for dispute settlement.

Transparency

As per rules it is obligatory for all the members of the WTO to issue their trade regulations. The main purpose of this law is to allow the organization to go through the details so that decisions are taken keeping the member countries’ situations in mind.

Safety Valves

In certain scenarios governments have the right to put restrictions on trade. If a country feels that trade puts its environment or nation’s health (population, animals or plants) at risk then it may impose bans. However, it must still meet certain criteria and must be done with a fair view without any mala fide intentions.

Some of the main advantages of its trading system are given below.

1. Promotes Peace

The WTO encourages free trade among nations. Due to its efforts, countries that were not on good terms came close with relationships improving. It is considered a strong tool in improving countries’ relationships that help bring peace to the world.

2. Disputes Handling

Under the WTO’s rules and regulations all the member countries have to follow certain rules and regulations. The organization has set a framework that has to be followed in case any kind of dispute arises among countries.

The availability of a solution beforehand allows disputes to be settled in a courteous manner without things getting ugly. Ever since the WTO came into existence the number of altercation among countries over trade issues has gradually declined.

3. Decreased Cost of Living

Due to the WTO’s efforts, international goods are available around the world. This gives rise to competition which means all the producers work hard by providing customers with high quality goods at affordable rates.

When rates fall, people get in a position to buy more with their limited income allowing them to enjoy more benefits hence a decreased cost of living.

4. High Standard of Living

Many people credit the WTO for improved living standards in many countries. Due to its efforts, big brands and known names have reached every corner of the world. In addition, high quality products from developed countries are easily sold in underdeveloped countries allowing people from such countries to enjoy the same benefits so that they do not feel deprived.

When people get to enjoy such luxuries, their standard of living ultimately improves. However, this process may take a long time.

5. Economic Growth

Thanks to the WTO’s efforts, countries have quickly grown in GDP as they get in a position to produce more and sell more thus increasing their exports that have a direct result on the GDP.

This is not only beneficial for one country but for both the countries because under the WTO’s agreement all the countries deserve the same rights and should enjoy the same benefits. It emphasizes on “non-discriminatory” behavior so that all the member countries are in a position to strengthen their economy and attain higher growth rates.

6. Good Government

Under the WRO’s policy, once a commitment to liberalize trade is made it cannot be reversed, until agreed by all the countries so that such a decision does not cause any sort of loss to any member country.

Such rules discourage unwise policies by countries and allow businesses to enjoy clarity and certainty as the risk of trade related policies fluctuating regularly is minimized. This means good discipline for government as a stable economy and government is appreciated by all the sectors.

The initial collection of the OECD policy recommendations to establish regulatory reforms was approved in 1997 by Ministers. They provide guidance to OECD member countries so as to enhance their regulatory policies and instruments, support competition and market openness and to minimize regulatory burdens.

The OECD regulations have evolved over the decade. Due to new experiences and events, the details of the policies have been enhanced and modified while the original 7 principles remain the same. A few of the key policies and regulations are:

Adopt Regulatory Reforms at a Broader Political Level

This states that the regulatory reforms should be applied at the highest political level and the key elements like policies, tools and institutions should be applied and implemented at every level of the government. It also states the importance of developing credible and effective coordination mechanisms, promoting coherence among all the objectives of major policies, clarifying the responsibilities to guarantee regulatory quality and enduring the capacity required to effectively respond to a fast-paced and continuously changing environment.

Examine Impacts and Evaluate Regulations

Social, economic and administrative regulations must be examined against good regulation principles from the viewpoint of those affected by those regulations instead of the regulator’s viewpoint. Contingency planning is also necessary for setting down regulations. Alternative regulations should be made as well wherever appropriate to offer firms and citizens greater scope.

The regulatory institutions and tools must be evaluated using performance-based examination to determine their effectiveness in contributing to economic performance and good regulation standards.

Assess Competition Policy

Sector regulation and competition law enforcement must be co-ordinates to guarantee consistency in the system and to promote trade liberalization and competition. Monitor the economy to prevent any monopolization, abuse of dominating position or anticompetitive mergers.

For this purpose, effective tools can be used like leniency programs in order to detect and discourage solid cartel violations. The competition authorities must be provided the capacity and authority to advocate reforms. Moreover, public awareness should be supported regarding the benefits and roles of competition.

Eliminate Unnecessary Regulatory Investment and Trade Barriers

Investment and trade should be liberalized internationally among the OECD members. Attention must be paid on aspects like non-discrimination, transparency and avoidance of trade restrictiveness that is not required. Furthermore, authorities should work towards harmonizing international standards, applying competition principles and streamlining the procedures of conformity assessment.

Outdated, duplicative or divergent requirements must be removed that give rise to regulatory investment and trade barriers. The criteria used for accepting foreign measures, qualifications and standards to be equal to domestic ones must be defined clearly.

These and many other important guidelines will assist in implementing quality and performance regulations effectively.