This paper examines the way in which ‘authority’ and ‘authoritarianism’ have been confl ated in contemporary philosophical thought. More specifi cally, it will show how the psycho-social critique of political authority developed by the Frankfurt School in the 1930s established a paradigm for the critique of political authority as ‘authoritarian irrationalism’. The paper goes on to explore the l...

* I am grateful to Jeffrey Bernstein for helpful discussions. This paper has also benefited from discussions with Irv Emmons, Neil Langland and staff members at numerous public service commissions. The usual caveat applies. Abstract A growing concern on the part of regulators is that price regulation may weaken incentives for investment in service quality. Participation by the firm in complemen...