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How Lobbying Affects Representation: Results for Majority-Elected Politicians

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  • Stadelmann David

    (University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany)

  • Portmann Marco

    (University of Fribourg, Bd. de Pérolles 90, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland)

  • Eichenberger Reiner

    (University of Fribourg, Bd. de Pérolles 90, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland)

Abstract

While most observers feel that interest groups influence parliamentary decisions, direct evidence on this topic is scarce. Matching parliamentary votes with referendum results helps to bridge this gap. Existing research for politicians of the Swiss Lower House of Parliament suggests that the number of sectional and cause interest groups affect the quality of political representation. We extend this analysis to majority-elected politicians of the Upper House and by more than 50 referendum decisions for the Lower House. Our results show that the pure number of sectional or cause groups does not affect defection of politicians from their constituents which suggests that the generalizability of the results may be limited.

Suggested Citation

  • Stadelmann David & Portmann Marco & Eichenberger Reiner, 2016. "How Lobbying Affects Representation: Results for Majority-Elected Politicians," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 16(4), pages 1-7, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejeap:v:16:y:2016:i:4:p:7:n:3
    DOI: 10.1515/bejeap-2016-0040
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Portmann, Marco & Stadelmann, David & Eichenberger, Reiner, 2022. "Incentives dominate selection – Chamber-changing legislators are driven by electoral rules and voter preferences," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 353-366.
    2. Ho Fai Chan & Ahmed Skali & David Stadelmann & Benno Torgler & Stephen Whyte, 2021. "Masculinity cues, perceptions of politician attributes, and political behavior," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(1), pages 148-171, March.
    3. Stadelmann, David & Torrens, Gustavo, 2020. "Who is the ultimate boss of legislators: Voters, special interest groups or parties?," VfS Annual Conference 2020 (Virtual Conference): Gender Economics 224562, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    4. Reiner Eichenberger & Marco Portmann und David Stadelmann, 2018. "Gute politische Institutionen: Eine Neuinterpretation für die Schweiz," CREMA Working Paper Series 2018-01, Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts (CREMA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    interest groups; representation; referenda; MP defection; electoral systems;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D70 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - General
    • H30 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - General

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