Small developing states can use proper regulatory frameworks in policy and sector development to implement efficiency and consumer safeguards to the sector. However, sufficient research on the impact of telecommunications regulatory institutions on micro economies has not been conducted. Capture theory was used as the theoretical lens for this thesis. In doing so, a quantitative analysis was done using, cross-sectional pooled time series to determine how an independent telecommunications regulator impacted the telecommunications sector in the English-speaking Caribbean. All the data acquired for analysis were secondary yearly data collected from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) from 1993 to 2012. Specifically, this study examined how prices, investment, infrastructure, and competition in the telecoms sector are affected by the type of regulatory regime (independent or non independent ) for fixed line and mobile services. Results indicate that the type of regulatory regime has a statistically significant impact on fixed line services and price of the telecommunications sector (p < .0001). However, this regulation was absent in other areas such as cellular services, broadband usage, telecoms investment and competition. The potential for positive social change is tied to recommendations specific to developing countries to ensure their regulators have autonomy in making decisions regarding the volume, quality and costs of telecommunications services. Legislation must minimize any overlap in the roles of policy makers, legislators, administrators and regulators to ensure that the regulatory framework addresses the particulars conditions of the country in which it operates.

Nous proposons dans cette thèse d’examiner les modes d’action de l’État en termes de cadrage et de contrôle de la sphère économique et financière. Cette étude nous mène à étudier le concept de régulation à travers une approche épistémologique, juridique, économique et philosophique. En ce sens, l’analyse des fonctions de gouvernement s’avère essentielle dans la mesure où nous assistons à l’évolution de la praxis régulatrice de l’État au regard des doctrines économiques et de l’architecture juridique et opérationnelle des institutions de régulation. Les fonctions de sécurisation de la sphère économique mettent en avant l’importance de l’espace complexe situé entre le régulateur et l’entité régulée. Dans ce cadre, l’étude des enjeux éthiques et l’importance du concept de contextualisation en termes de moralisation des marchés financiers impliquent la confrontation de la praxis régulatrice avec les concepts-clés de gouvernementalité, de catégorisation et de performativité. Tour à tour, gardien, régulateur et stratège, l’État est inséré, aujourd’hui à l’ère digitale, dans un monde fragmenté et global. A cet égard, la compréhension des phénomènes de «co-régulation» et «d’inter-régulation» nécessite, tout d’abord, de remettre en perspective la notion de responsabilité et d’indépendance des acteurs et des institutions. Dans cette réflexion, l’appréhension du risque par les pouvoirs publics montre certaines limites à la fois des modèles de risque et des modèles de régulation. / We suggest in this thesis to examine the State’s modalities of action in terms of framing and control of the economic and financial sphere. This study leads us to study the concept of regulation through an epistemological, legal, economic and philosophical approach. De facto, the analysis of the functions of government proves to be essential insofar as we observe the evolution of the State’s regulatory praxis with regard to the economic doctrines and the legal and operational architecture of the institutions of regulation. The functions of securization of the economic sphere shed lights on the complex space between the regulator and the regulated entity. In this context, the study of ethical issues with the importance of the concept of contextualization in terms of the moralization of financial markets imply the confrontation of the regulatory praxis with key concepts as governmentality, categorization and performativity. Successively, guardian, regulator and strategist, the State is inserted, today in the digital age, in a fragmented and global world. Understanding the phenomenon of “co-regulation” and “inter-regulation” requires, first of all, putting into perspective the notion of responsibility and independence of actors and institutions. In this reflection, the apprehension of risk by public authorities underlines some limits both in risk models and in models of regulation.