The most terrifying words in the English language are, or were at least according to the late president of the United States Ronald Regan: "I'm from the government and I'm here to help." and for investors in global smaller companies, this could be prescient. Most investors into smaller caps are attracted by the prospect of exponential business growth. Young companies with innovative products are supposed to offer a disruptive threat to established companies, with huge potential markets to grow into. However, developments in society and politics could be calling into question the ability of smaller companies to generate the same excess returns in the coming decades. The chief issue is regulation: while regulation is often mooted as in the interest of society at large, there is evidence that in recent years the chief beneficiaries of regulation have been the large players in existing industries, who are better able to adapt to the increasing costs. In this study we consider how the regulatory burden is affecting markets around the world and what it means for investors in the various regions.