摘要：Purpose – The article provides an assessment of the regulatory environment of the Brazilian mining sector and its theorization based on the theory of economic regulation. Upon such assessment, it will be possible to discuss the behavior of the regulator and to verify whether the theory of economic regulation is satisfactory for the analysis of the regulatory environment. Methodology/approach/design – The theory of economic regulation will be reviewed to define its boundaries and applicability, based on George Stigler and Richard Posner. Further, the Brazilian mining sector and its new regulator (the National Mining Agency – ANM) will be presented to establish the setting for testing the theory of economic regulation. The test will be undertaken by reviewing the Normative Consolidation and the regulation applicable to tailings dams, considering the regulatory relevance of those subjects. The results of the test will be confronted with those anticipated by the theory of economic regulation. Findings – The results of the empirical analysis differ from what was anticipated by the exclusive application of the theory. There are elements that do evidence the prevalence of economic interests over the regulator. Nonetheless, further analysis that incorporates technical and procedural data is required in order to verify the actual influence of economic agents during the regulatory process in the mining sector.↓Propósito – O artigo promove a análise do ambiente regulatório do setor mineral brasileiro e sua teorização a partir da teoria da regulação econômica. Com esse exame, será possível discutir o comportamento do regulador e avaliar se a teoria da regulação econômica se apresenta satisfatória para a análise do ambiente regulatório. Metodologia/abordagem/design – A teoria da regulação econômica será problematizada para traçar seus contornos e âmbito de aplicação, amparada na doutrina de George Stigler e de Richard Posner. Em seguida, serão caracterizados o setor mineral brasileiro e o novo ente regulador setorial (Agência Nacional de Mineração – ANM) para estabelecer o pano de fundo para se testar a teoria da regulação econômica. Para esse teste, serão analisadas a Consolidação Normativa e a regulação sobre barragens, devido relevância regulatória dos temas, comparando-se os resultados empiricamente encontrados com os antecipados pela teoria. Resultados – O resultado da análise empírica difere do esperado pela aplicação exclusiva da teoria da regulação econômica. Há elementos que não permitem afirmar ter havido a preponderância da influência econômica sobre o regulador. Não obstante, é necessário aprofundamento incorporando critérios de avaliação técnica e procedimental que permitam verificar a real influência dos agentes econômicos ao longo do processo regulatório setorial.
其他摘要：Purpose – The article provides an assessment of the regulatory environment of the Brazilian mining sector and its theorization based on the theory of economic regulation. Upon such assessment, it will be possible to discuss the behavior of the regulator and to verify whether the theory of economic regulation is satisfactory for the analysis of the regulatory environment. Methodology/approach/design – The theory of economic regulation will be reviewed to define its boundaries and applicability, based on George Stigler and Richard Posner. Further, the Brazilian mining sector and its new regulator (the National Mining Agency – ANM) will be presented to establish the setting for testing the theory of economic regulation. The test will be undertaken by reviewing the Normative Consolidation and the regulation applicable to tailings dams, considering the regulatory relevance of those subjects. The results of the test will be confronted with those anticipated by the theory of economic regulation. Findings – The results of the empirical analysis differ from what was anticipated by the exclusive application of the theory. There are elements that do evidence the prevalence of economic interests over the regulator. Nonetheless, further analysis that incorporates technical and procedural data is required in order to verify the actual influence of economic agents during the regulatory process in the mining sector.
