The European Union and Global Financial Regulation

The European Union and Global Financial Regulation examines the influence of the European Union (EU) in regulating global finance, addressing several inter-related questions. Why does the EU 'upload' international financial regulation in some cases, 'download' it in other cases, and 'cross-load' either actively or passively in other instances? Has this changed over time, especially after the third stage of Economic and Monetary Union and the completion of the single financial market, or after the global financial crisis? Under what conditions is the EU more or less likely to upload, download or cross load rules? Through which mechanisms does this take place? Overall, does the EU act as a pace setter in regulating global finance, or is it mainly a follower? Why?

The key explanatory variable used in this research is the concept of 'regulatory capacity', applied to the EU and the US, distinguishing between 'strong' and 'weak' regulatory capacity. The influence of the EU in global financial regulation depends on the combinations of EU and US regulatory capacities. When EU regulatory capacity is weak and US regulatory capacity is strong, the US will mainly upload its domestic rules internationally and/or actively cross load them to the EU, whereas the EU will mainly download international rules. When the EU regulatory capacity is strong and US regulatory capacity is weak, the EU is able to upload its rules internationally and/or actively cross load them to third countries. When the EU and the US regulatory capacities are weak, private sector governance prevails. When the EU and US regulatory capacities are strong, both jurisdictions seek to upload and cross load their domestic rules.

Lucia Quaglia, Professor of Political Science, University of York

Lucia Quaglia's most recent research monographs are: Governing Financial Services in the European Union (2010) and Central Banking Governance in the EU: A Comparative Analysis (2008). Together with Kenneth Dyson she published two volumes: European Economic Governance and Policies (2010). Together Dermot Hodson, she was the guest co-editor of the 2009 special issue of the Journal of Common Market Studies on 'The Global Financial Turmoil: European Perspectives and Lessons'. She has published extensively in journals such as Comparative European Politics, Governance, Journal of Common Market Studies, Journal of European Integration, Journal of European Public Policy, New Political Economy, South European Politics and Society, West European Politics etc. She is Professor of Political Science at the University of York.