Ascend Magazine covered a lot of ground in its inaugural year. In addition to providing in-depth analysis on topics ranging from cannabis licensure in the U.S., to use cases of data virtualization in regulation, to the history of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), we also featured some of the most prominent voices in regulation from around the world – including David Benton, Dr. Marie Bismark, and Martin Fletcher.
For our final article of 2022, we’re looking back on the year to recap the five articles that most fascinated our readers.
1. Self-regulation in Canada: How do professionals police themselves?
Though the idea of regulation calls to mind federal involvement in business operations, many industries hold their practitioners accountable without government intervention, thanks to the formation of what are called self-regulatory bodies. In our most-read article of 2022, writer Jordan Milian explores self-regulation as it pertains to professional licensing in Canada, including the theory behind self-regulation, the powers that self-regulators have, and who holds them accountable.
2. Professional associations: How are they different from regulators?
In the simplest terms, professional associations serve the interests of members while regulators serve the interest of the public. But on closer inspection, it’s more complicated than that. Many of their goals, interests, and activities can be similar, and in some cases, it can be difficult to tell if an organization is a professional association or a regulator at first glance. This article from January 2022 breaks down what professional associations do and how they are both similar and different from regulatory bodies.
3. What are the least and most regulated states in America?
The regulatory landscape varies substantially between U.S. states. In addition to having a great impact on how citizens live and work, the extent of state regulations has far-reaching implications for the vibrancy and efficiency of economies overall. But what are the most regulated states? And which are the least? In this article published in May 2022, Ariel Visconti answers these questions using insights from the Mercatus Center’s State RegData project.
4. How can we reduce record levels of health care burnout and distress?
Health care professionals are experiencing record levels of distress and burnout after nearly three years of working on the frontlines of the pandemic. In this Ascend article from October, we explored the roots of this issue with insights from Australian researcher and physician Dr. Marie Bismark, and discussed potential actions that employers, medical boards, and policymakers could take to improve working conditions and remove barriers that are discouraging many from seeking treatment.
5. Is regulation a constant or a variable? Harry Cayton explores.
Is regulation a constant or a variable? How do regulators balance the need for rigid, universally applied constants with the demands of a dynamic, ever-changing world? Regulatory expert Harry Cayton looks at these questions and more in this Voices article published in June.
MORE INSIGHT
Cayton asks ChatGPT: Is AI a good thing or a bad thing?
Is AI a good thing or a bad thing? It’s a question that’s currently top of mind for lawmakers and citizens alike as the development of increasingly powerful AI technologies continues at a rapid pace. As Harry Cayton recently contemplated this question, he decided to ask ChatGPT to see what it had to say.
Dispatches from Dublin: How knowledge, innovation, and creativity empower regulators
CLEAR’s recent International Congress in Dublin, Ireland took an in-depth look at common challenges dominating the world of modern regulation. Paul Leavoy shares his insights from the conference, which explored issues like improving continuing education efforts, how marketing tactics can bolster regulatory efforts, and why regulators should start thinking of regulation as a verb instead of a noun.
When are governance elections threats to self-regulating professions?
Governance elections are a vital dimension to healthy self-regulation. But as Ken Osborne explores in this article, they are increasingly under threat from low voter participation and politicization that can cause tension between representative and regulatory functions.
A timeline of cryptocurrency regulation in America (Part 4): The Crypto Collapse
Our series on the history of cryptocurrency regulation in America concludes with a look at the 2022 crypto collapse. One after another, several major crypto firms filed for bankruptcy, causing Bitcoin and Ether to plunge in value. But even as many crypto founders faced criminal charges, the regulatory environment was still characterized by confusion and contradictions.
An exhaustive breakdown of interstate compacts in the U.S.
Just how many interstate licensing agreements are active in the U.S.? And in which professions are regulators looking to further promote license mobility? In our latest Ascend article, we take an in-depth look at the country’s largest active and pending multistate licensing agreements.
Recruitment of international professionals should engender regulatory cooperation, not competition: Cayton
Facing dire labor shortages in various health professions, legislatures are encouraging, cajoling, or ordering regulators to speed up and simplify the licensing of international professionals. But as Harry Cayton explores in his latest Voices column, there are often unintended consequences to this migration.
