Well-designed and implemented regulations have a key role to play in supporting market functioning, protecting health and safety, and establishing clear, transparent government procedures. However, the steady accumulation of rules and administrative requirements to respond to new policy priorities and challenges has created dense regulatory systems that are harder to comply with. Businesses report that the costs of meeting reporting requirements and keeping pace with changing rules makes it more difficult to operate, innovate and grow. Regulatory fragmentation and undue complexity also undermine the effectiveness of government policies.
Regulatory simplification is now a key priority for countries around the world. Governments are seeking to reform their regulatory frameworks so they are as proportionate, effective, and fit‑for‑purpose as possible.
These efforts are not new. For decades, OECD countries have pursued reforms to reduce administrative burdens and streamline rules, supported by an expanding set of policy tools, but further progress is needed. Governments report the need for more quality data and capacity to fully leverage digital technologies to translate simplification ambitions into tangible results.
For simplification efforts to succeed, they need to be part of a targeted and systematic approach, focusing on areas where reducing burdens can make the greatest difference for people, businesses and the economy. Survey responses from governments and business organisations point to construction and housing as common priorities for regulatory simplification.
In 2025, the OECD’s Regulatory Policy Committee carried out an initial cross-country listening exercise on regulatory burden and simplification efforts, bringing together perceptions from governments and business organisations. Placing these views side-by-side provides an actionable foundation for reform based on a common agenda for change.
Simplifying for Success is not about simply cutting regulation, but making regulation smarter – delivering real results for people while enabling economies to thrive by avoiding unnecessary burdens from the outset. The analysis in this report supports policymakers in advancing these efforts, and laying the foundations for prosperity and well-being.
Mathias Cormann,
Secretary-General, OECD