Replication Data for: The Domestic Impact of International Standards

Regulation is no longer purely a domestic affair. International standards now exist across a broad range of regulatory arenas, touching on issues that may be central to domestic values, such as the regulation of health, safety, and the environment. Although a number of studies have looked at the domestic impact of globalization more generally, few scholars have evaluated the effects of international standards, specifically. This paper investigates that issue, with an empirical focus on agrochemicals. Using original data on changes to US agrochemical regulations between 1996 and 2015, I evaluate whether and how domestic rules have changed in response to international standards. Contrary to common fears, I find little evidence that international standards primarily act as a ceiling, thereby undermining domestic regulations. Instead, international standards seem to serve as focal points, pulling nations toward leniency as well as toward stringency. These findings not only contribute to the broader literature on the domestic effects of globalization, but they also allay concerns that international standards could act as a regulatory cap, encouraging nations to sacrifice caution for economic gain.

监管已不再单纯属于国内事务范畴。当前，全球范围内的众多监管领域均已形成国际标准，这些标准涉及卫生、安全与环境监管等关乎国内核心价值的议题。尽管已有多项研究从宏观层面探讨了全球化对国内的影响，但鲜有学者专门针对国际标准的效应展开评估。本文围绕这一议题展开研究，以农用化学品（agrochemicals）监管为实证聚焦对象。本文利用1996年至2015年间美国农用化学品监管规则变动的原始数据，评估国内规则是否以及如何因应国际标准而发生调整。与普遍的担忧相悖，本文几乎未发现证据支持国际标准主要充当监管天花板、进而削弱国内监管规则的论断。相反，国际标准似乎更像是一种协调锚点，推动各国监管政策既趋向宽松，亦趋向严格。上述研究发现不仅丰富了有关全球化国内影响的现有学术文献，同时也缓解了人们的担忧——即国际标准可能成为监管上限，促使各国为经济利益而放松监管审慎性。