ClimateJuly 14, 2026

overregulation

/ˌoʊvərˌrɛɡjʊˈleɪʃən/

Definition

The imposition of excessive or burdensome government rules and mandates that impede market efficiency and increase costs for businesses and consumers.

Etymology

The word is formed by the prefix 'over-', meaning 'excessive,' and the noun 'regulation,' which derives from the Latin 'regula,' meaning 'rule or straight edge.' It entered English as a means to describe bureaucratic oversight that has surpassed the point of functional necessity.

In the news

In this article, the term refers to state-level energy policies in California and New York that the authors argue restrict fuel supply and raise consumer prices unnecessarily. It is used to contrast these restrictive policies with the more market-oriented approaches found in red states.

The Red-Blue Energy Divide: How Overregulation Inflates Prices

Read the full article ↗

The National Interest

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