Jawboning as regulatory tool

Governments and civic movements routinely use 'moral suasion' — public appeals plus implicit threats — to change private behavior without passing new laws. That soft‑power lever shifts regulatory outcomes through reputation, litigation risk, or the prospect of future formal sanctions rather than formal rulemaking. — Recognizing jawboning as a distinct governance instrument highlights accountability gaps: who exerts power, how targets respond, and when courts or legislatures should check informal coercion.