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Who Lobbies Whom? Special Interest Politics under Alternative Electoral Systems

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  • Megumi Naoi
  • Ellis Krauss

Abstract

Why do some interest groups lobby politicians and others lobby bureaucrats? We theorize lobbying venue choices and intensity as a function of contract enforceability with policy makers, politicians, or bureaucrats. We argue that organizational structures of interest groups, in particular, whether they are centralized or decentralized, substantially affect their lobbying strategies because they are associated with different ability to monitor and enforce contracts with policy makers and punish them when they fail. We further demonstrate that the effect of centralized versus decentralized structure on venue choices is conditional on the types of electoral system: majoritarian, semiproportional (single, nontransferable vote: SNTV), or proportional representation systems. We test this argument using longitudinal survey data on lobbying which span two decades and cover around 250 interest groups in various sectors and issue areas in Japan. The results lend strong support to our argument about contract enforceability under alternative electoral systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Megumi Naoi & Ellis Krauss, 2009. "Who Lobbies Whom? Special Interest Politics under Alternative Electoral Systems," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 53(4), pages 874-892, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:amposc:v:53:y:2009:i:4:p:874-892
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-5907.2009.00406.x
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    3. Izaskun Zuazu, 2022. "Electoral systems and income inequality: a tale of political equality," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 63(2), pages 793-819, August.
    4. Zuazu Bermejo, Izaskun, 2018. "Electoral Systems and Income Inequality: A Tale of Political Equality," IKERLANAK 30206, Universidad del País Vasco - Departamento de Fundamentos del Análisis Económico I.
    5. Michal Carrington & Andreas Chatzidakis & Helen Goworek & Deirdre Shaw, 2021. "Consumption Ethics: A Review and Analysis of Future Directions for Interdisciplinary Research," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 168(2), pages 215-238, January.
    6. Zyuzina Lina A., 2018. "Lobbying As A Tool Of Economic Policy: Empirical Analysis And Directions Of Research," Annals of marketing-mba, Department of Marketing, Marketing MBA (RSconsult), vol. 1, April.
    7. Zyuzina Lina A., 2018. "Empirical Analysis Of Lobbying Activities: Problems, Approaches, And Research Directions," Annals of marketing-mba, Department of Marketing, Marketing MBA (RSconsult), vol. 3, November.
    8. Christian Walter Martin & Nils D. Steiner, 2016. "Economic globalization and the change of electoral rules," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 27(4), pages 355-376, December.
    9. John M. de Figueiredo & Brian Kelleher Richter, 2013. "Advancing the Empirical Research on Lobbying," NBER Working Papers 19698, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    10. Barber Benjamin & Weschle Simon & Pierskalla Jan, 2014. "Lobbying and the collective action problem: comparative evidence from enterprise surveys," Business and Politics, De Gruyter, vol. 16(2), pages 1-26, August.

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