Regulatory derivative
Regulatory derivative
/ˌrɛɡjəˈleɪtᵊri/ /dɪˈrɪvətɪv/ (n.)
A financial instrument whose payoff derives from the existence, or otherwise, of given laws or regulations.
Quite a weird concept, but the emissions allowance is one such financial instrument. Its value derives solely from the attitude towards the law of regulators.