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Representatives of the public? Public opinion and interest group activity
Author(s) -
Rasmussen Anne,
Carroll Brendan J.,
Lowery David
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
european journal of political research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.267
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1475-6765
pISSN - 0304-4130
DOI - 10.1111/1475-6765.12036
Subject(s) - salient , element (criminal law) , public opinion , democracy , public interest , political science , public economics , public policy , empirical research , interest group , demand side , public relations , public administration , economics , law , microeconomics , politics , philosophy , epistemology
Although scholars have long speculated about how organised interests link the public to decision makers, there has actually been little empirical research on this important element of democratic theory. This important gap in the literature is addressed in this article by examining, in addition to other supply‐side and demand‐side factors, whether groups mobilise on issues in policy areas that are regarded as salient by the public. Based on an analysis of 4,501 contributions in 142 E uropean C ommission online consultations, it is found that organised interests potentially can act as a transmission belt between the public and decision makers. Although the results vary to some degree by issues, higher rates of mobilisation are found on those issues that fall within policy areas that are regarded as salient by the general public and those with consequences for budgetary spending.