RegData 2.0 provides a revolutionary way of quantifying regulation by industry, agency and restriction terms found in text of the Code of Federal Regulations.

1. RegData 2.0
July 29, 2014
Patrick A. McLaughlin
Senior Research Fellow
Mercatus Center at George Mason University

2. Federal Regulatory Accumulation

3. RegData – New Metrics of
Regulation
1. Based on actual regulatory text
2. Measures regulation by year,
industry, and regulator
3. Permits policy analysis and insight
4. Research tool

4. Units of Analysis
CFR Division Granularity Typical Contents
Mean Annual
Observations
Mean Word
Count
Title Least
Broad subject area of
regulations
48 1,200,000
Chapter
Rules of an individual
agency
410 150,000
Subchapter
Rules of a subagency or
subdivision of an agency
n/a n/a
Part
Rules on a single
program/function
8,100 7,500
Subpart
Rules on a particular
aspect of a single
program/function
n/a n/a
Section
One provision of a
program/function
190,000 310
Paragraph Most
Detailed requirement(s)
related to the provision
1,600,000 39

5. Metrics: Quantity of Regulation
1. Word count

7. Metrics: Quantity of Regulation
1. Word count
2. Restriction count

8. Restrictions: quantify the binding
constraints
Created programs that find binding constraints
in CFR text
• E.g., “shall” or “must”
• Proxy for how restrictive text is
• Not comprehensive of all restrictions

9. Example

11. One sentence from 29 CFR Part 1926
Section 416
Before work is begun the employer shall
ascertain by inquiry or direct observation,
or by instruments, whether any part of an
energized power circuit, exposed or
concealed, is so located that the
performance of the work may bring any
person, tool, or machine into physical or
electrical contact with the electric power
circuit.

12. Top 10 words, one title, one year
Word Hits Rank
the 73760 1
of 46912 2
and 35523 3
to 25699 4
a 23423 5
or 21492 6
shall 17692 7
in 17641 8
be 17348 9
for 14172 10
TOTAL WORDS: 1,078,251

13. Top 10 words, one title, one year
Word Hits Rank
the 73760 1
of 46912 2
and 35523 3
to 25699 4
a 23423 5
or 21492 6
shall 17692 7
in 17641 8
be 17348 9
for 14172 10
TOTAL WORDS: 1,078,251

14. Top 10 words, only nouns and verbs (except
part, FR, and section)
Word Hits Rank
shall 17692 1
be 17348 2
is 7650 3
are 3990 4
mining 3784 5
coal 3705 6
surface 3423 7
mine 3387 8
requirements 3294 9
state 3195 10

16. Metrics: Relevance to
stakeholders
1. Search term count
2. Industry regulation index

17. Look for the right words
Word Hits Rank
shall 17692 1
be 17348 2
is 7650 3
are 3990 4
mining 3784 5
coal 3705 6
surface 3423 7
mine 3387 8
requirements 3294 9
state 3195 10

18. Sample NAICS 3-digit Classifications
3-Digit
Code Description
111 Crop Production
211 Oil and Gas Extraction
212 Mining (except Oil and Gas)
221 Utilities
236 Construction of Buildings
315 Apparel Manufacturing
316 Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing
321 Wood Product Manufacturing
322 Paper Manufacturing
334 Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing

19. Regulation by Industry (NAICS)
Paper
Manufacturing
Paper
Manufacturer
Paper
Manufacturers

21. Other features
1. Other metrics
2. Research
3. Download the data

24. Sample applications
1. Most mentioned industries
2. Most relevant agencies for a state

25. Most Mentioned 2-Digit
Industries in 2012
2-Digit NAICS Classification Search Term Count
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction 45,083
Transportation and Warehousing 44,712
Manufacturing 44,452
Finance and Insurance 28,683
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 27,301
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 26,282
Construction 22,261
Utilities 14,120
Educational Services 10,355
Retail Trade 4,311

26. Virginia - Sample Industries &
Most Relevant Regulator
4-Digit NAICS Classification
Total
Employment
Most Relevant Regulator
Elementary and secondary schools 239,927
Office of Postsecondary Education,
Department of Education
General medical and surgical
hospitals
105,467
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, Department of Health and
Human Services
Colleges and universities 76,865
Internal Revenue Service, Department
of the Treasury
Grocery stores 67,076
Internal Revenue Service, Department
of the Treasury
National security and
international affairs
66,677 Office of the Secretary of Defense
Offices of physicians 63,519
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, Department of Health and
Human Services
Building equipment contractors 53,371
Occupational Safety and Health

27. Questions?
Twitter:
@EconPatrick
@RegData