The British Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Festival of Science took place from 8-13 September at the University of Birmingham. Section F is devoted to economics and this year, under the presidency of John Kay, Chairman of London Economics, featured a series of high profile presentations on the economics of regulation, including the following. Click on the relevant headline for a briefing:

• The Paradox of Regulation (Presidential address) - Professor John Kay, Chairman of London Economics
• Privatisation and Regulation in the UK: Successes and Failures - Philip Burns, London Economics
• Operating Utility Regulation - Sir Christopher Foster, Coopers & Lybrand
• Regulation and Business - Professor David Currie, London Business School
• Managing a Regulated Utility in Practice - Brian Duckworth, Managing Director, Severn Trent Water plc