Regulatory Agency Reputation Acquisition With Regulatees: A Q Methodology Analysis

ABSTRACT Empirical studies examining how independent regulatory agencies acquire their reputation with regulatees are scarce. This gap is notable given established links between regulator reputation and regulatee compliance. To address this, this paper presents results of an online, self‐administered Q methodology study with 286 regulatees of 10 Dutch independent regulatory agencies. This study finds respondents generally form impressions of regulators primarily based on direct interactions with agency staff. Second‐hand information, notably from mass and social media, is far less influential. Regulatees differ, however, on whether they form their impressions based on agency‐ versus inspector‐level performance, and based on evaluations of how well the agency serves citizens versus the regulated sector. This study provides theoretical insights into regulatees as a distinct stakeholder audience, and practical implications for regulatory agency reputation management targeting this group.