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Explaining the Membership of Sectoral Business Associations

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  • R J Bennett

    (Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Downing Place, Cambridge CB2 3EN, England)

Abstract

This paper gives the first systematic statistical assessment of the factors explaining the membership of sector business associations. An important aspect of the argument is the importance of differentiating associations by the types of their members because this reflects their demand orientation and their decisionmaking structures. Associations of companies (traditionally termed trade associations), individuals (traditionally termed professional associations), owner-managers, mixed member types, and federations are each different types of member bodies. The estimates in the paper, using new survey evidence, confirm the significance of these distinctions and demonstrate the different factors explaining association membership size, density of encompassing of members (as a proportion of the number of businesses in their sector, and the proportion of the sector's turnover), as well as the membership joining and lapsing rates. The results generally confirm the dominance of the logic of influence on trade associations and the logic of services on other associations. The role of sector concentration, association age, association size, and management structure are also shown to be significant explanatory variables for some association types.

Suggested Citation

  • R J Bennett, 1999. "Explaining the Membership of Sectoral Business Associations," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 31(5), pages 877-898, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:31:y:1999:i:5:p:877-898
    DOI: 10.1068/a310877
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bowman,John R., 1989. "Capitalist Collective Action," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521362658, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Vikrant Shirodkar & Eshani Beddewela & Ulf Henning Richter, 2018. "Firm-Level Determinants of Political CSR in Emerging Economies: Evidence from India," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(3), pages 673-688, March.
    2. David Valler & Andrew Wood, 2004. "Devolution and the Politics of Business Representation in Britain: A Strategic — Relational Approach," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 36(10), pages 1835-1854, October.
    3. Peter W. De Langen, 2005. "IMPROVING TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN CLUSTERS - LESSONS FROM THREE PORT CLUSTERS Improving Training and Education in Clusters - Lessons from Three Port Clusters," ERSA conference papers ersa05p61, European Regional Science Association.
    4. Debby F. Mir, 2008. "Environmental behaviour in Chicago automotive repair micro‐enterprises (MEPs)," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 17(3), pages 194-207, March.
    5. Hayley H. Chouinard & Gregmar I. Galinato & Philip R. Wandschneider, 2016. "Making Friends To Influence Others: Entry And Contribution Decisions That Affect Social Capital In An Association," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 54(2), pages 819-834, April.
    6. Mas, José M. & Gómez, Andrés, 2021. "Social partners in the digital ecosystem: Will business organizations, trade unions and government organizations survive the digital revolution?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).

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