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Lobbying Legislatures

Author

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  • Morten Bennedsen
  • Sven E. Feldmann

Abstract

We analyze informational lobbying in the context of a multimember legislature that decides on the allocation of a public good. First, we observe that a majoritarian legislature provides widely different incentives for interest groups to lobby than a single decision maker does. Second, we compare a decentralized legislature, such as the U.S. Congress, to a parliament with strong party cohesion. Congress's decentralized nature allows the strategic formation of policy coalitions among high-demand districts and the exclusion of low-demand districts. This increases the incentive to provide information about districts' demand relative to a legislature in which the governing coalition is fixed.

Suggested Citation

  • Morten Bennedsen & Sven E. Feldmann, 2002. "Lobbying Legislatures," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 110(4), pages 919-948, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jpolec:v:110:y:2002:i:4:p:919-948
    DOI: 10.1086/340775
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H89 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Other

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