Regulierungswettbewerb im Deutschen Reich (1871–1914): Welche Erfahrungen sind für die Europäische Union relevant?

Abstract: The question to what extent national regulations should compete or be harmonised within the European Union is important for the further process of integration. The past experiences of economically and politically integrated areas are neglected in this discussion. On the basis of an evolutionary concept of institutional competition this paper outlines how regulatory competition between the ‘Bundesstaaten’ of the German Empire of 1871 – in its political structure comparable with the European Union – and between the Empire and foreign countries performed up to First World War. The special case study deals with the regulation of food of wine, beer and meat, but the article tries to work out general hypotheses about institutional competition between different jurisdictions. Especially the limits of regulatory competition are brought out.