The Political Legal & Regulatory Environment

The Fulcrum

If the citizens are, for example, pro-Big Business then probably taxation will be modest and there will not be a lot of stringent rules about environmental considerations.

If the citizens are very concerned about safety issues, for example, then there will be a lot of rules and regulations governing things such as transportation safety, which will make it more expensive for some companies that have big shipping costs.

The rules and regulations created by the politicians, have significant influence on the cost of running a business and the way it can market products and services - for example in Canada there are severe regulations about advertising for alcohol and tobacco. Examples of influences of the political environment include:

  • regulations governing how businesses can interact with overseas companies
  • regulations and laws limiting or restricting importing
  • regulations limiting the operations of foreign companies
  • how the national government is influenced by larger governments or special interests outside the country
  • laws and rules reflecting social/cultural changes in the demographic make-up of the citizens