#23 – Thibault Schrepel: Adaptive Regulation

#23 – Thibault Schrepel: Adaptive Regulation

From Scaling Theory by Thibault Schrepel

September 29, 2025 · 40 min

About this episode

Thibault Schrepel explores the challenges of creating adaptive laws in the face of rapid technological change.

This is the first solo episode of Scaling Theory, where I take a deep dive into the literature. Building on a working paper titled “Adaptive Regulation,” I explore why “future-proof” laws so often fail in the face of rapid technological change, and how complexity science can guide us toward rules that adapt to the things they regulate. Drawing on recent EU digital acts and voices from law, economics, and complexity theory, I sketch the contours of a regulatory system that scales. You can follow me on X (@⁠ ⁠ProfSchrepel⁠⁠ ) and BlueSky (@⁠ ⁠ProfSchrepel⁠⁠ ). References : Schrepel, T., Adaptive Regulation (2025) https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5416454 Ranchordás, S., & Van‘t Schip, M. (2020). Future-Proofing Legislation for the Digital Age. In Time, Law, and Change: An Interdisciplinary Study. Colomo, P. I. (2022). Future-Proof Regulation against the Test of Time: The Evolution of European Telecommunications Regulation. Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, 42(4). Chander, A. (2017). Future-proofing law. UC Davis Law Review. Powell, W. W., & Snellman, K. (2004). The Knowledge Economy. Annual Review of Sociology, 30. Perez, C. (2009). The Double Bubble at the…

People in this episode

Host: Thibault Schrepel

Topics covered

  • adaptive regulation
  • complexity science
  • digital legislation
  • technological change
  • regulatory systems
  • EU digital acts

Keywords

  • adaptive regulation
  • complexity science
  • digital economy
  • EU legislation
  • future-proof laws
  • regulatory systems

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: EU

Books & works: Adaptive Regulation

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