From Inequality to Integrity: An Empirical Investigation into the Determinants of Regulatory Quality

This study investigates the complex interplay between gender empowerment, environmental sustainability, and economic inequality in shaping global regulatory quality. Grounded in a multidimensional framework, the research seeks to empirically assess the impact of three pivotal variables—women’s empowerment (measured via the Women, Business and the Law Index), air pollution (PM2.5), and socio-economic inequality (proxied by GDP per capita PPP)—on regulatory quality across 114 countries. The purpose is to discern whether gender-inclusive legal frameworks, environmental degradation, and economic development exert significant influence on the integrity and efficacy of regulatory institutions. The study addresses a critical research gap at the intersection of gender rights, environmental governance, and institutional development, offering a novel contribution to the political economy of regulation. While past studies have independently explored governance determinants, few have holistically integrated these three dimensions using globally representative cross-sectional data. This paper thereby contributes to both theory and practice by emphasizing structural equity, ecological stewardship, and policy-oriented empowerment. The methodology employs cross-sectional Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analysis using 2019 data sourced from the World Development Indicators (WDI). The model demonstrates high explanatory power, indicating that the independent variables account for nearly 78.5% of the variance in regulatory quality. The results reveal that both women empowerment and socio-economic advancement exert a significant and positive effect on regulatory quality, validating institutionalist and feminist economic theories. In contrast, air pollution significantly undermines regulatory quality, suggesting that ecological degradation is a key indicator of institutional weakness. The findings imply that policies aimed at enhancing regulatory quality must embrace intersectional governance approaches—strengthening women’s legal rights, promoting inclusive economic growth, and addressing environmental harm. These insights are imperative for international organizations, national governments, and development agencies committed to achieving robust, inclusive, and sustainable governance systems.