From the concepts of regulation to their possibilities

The term regulation has been used in very different ways. There is a variety of meanings, approaches, and objectives, sometimes interrelated, sometimes divergent. A review of the concepts of regulation was conducted by means of the following disciplines: life sciences, law, economics, sociology, and political science. The term regulation has multiple meanings and it has been used in several disciplines. It is noticed that the evolution of the notion of regulation did not occur in a linear way, since the ideas related to this term did not take place in successive stages of development and improvement. However, what makes the concepts of regulation different from each other is precisely the definition of various intervention ways. Finally, any conscious intervention project to improve the health situation requires grounded concepts of regulation. Precisely to break with potential interpretation monopolies. By means of this critical reflection, it is possible to get closer both to the polysemous context that constitutes the concepts of regulation and its consequences for analyzing public policies.

Regulation; Health Law; Health Economics; Social Regulation; Biological Regulation