Regulation has long been conceptualised as one of many tools for public policy implementation. Questions are then posed about what types of regulation will be most suitable to achieve public policy goals. Yet, regulation itself needs to be implemented as well and it is in this process of implementing regulation that additional challenges rise: how can regulatory frontline workers (also referred to as street-level bureaucrats) best engage with the targets of regulation? How can regulatory agencies best allocate their limited regulatory resources? Whether should government undertake the implementation of regulation, or can it be done by others?

This research paper first reviews a body of literature that considers regulation merely as an implementation tool for public policy, and then it touches on a body of literature that is interested to understand how to implement regulation best. It concludes with suggestions for future research in both these areas.