News imageThe Bottom Line, The Bottom Line, The Costs and Benefits of Business Regulation

The Bottom Line

The Bottom Line

The Costs and Benefits of Business Regulation

2 July 2026

Available for over a year

Few disagree we need business regulations to protect the rights of workers and consumers, ensure markets operate fairly and set standards for a whole host of industries. However, one thing some business owners get frustrated about is the amount of regulation they have to comply with. It's not just that we over-regulate, they also complaint that we're slow to regulate too, causing unnecessary and expensive delays. Evan Davis explores the nature of the regulatory landscape in the UK and assesses whether we fairly weigh up their costs and benefits.

Presenter: Evan Davis

Producer: Sally Abrahams & Nick Holland

Sounds: Neil Churchill and Rod Farquhar

Production Coordinator: Katie Morrison

Editor: Sam Bonham

Guests:

John Fingleton: CEO of Fingleton Consultancy

Polly Dhaliwal: COO of Enterprise Nation

David Buttress: Co-Founder of Just Eat