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Does Participation in Policymaking Enhance Satisfaction with the Policy Outcome? Evidence from Switzerland
Author(s) -
Traber Denise
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
swiss political science review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.632
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1662-6370
pISSN - 1424-7755
DOI - 10.1111/spsr.12021
Subject(s) - outcome (game theory) , preference , interest group , political science , group decision making , psychology , social psychology , public economics , economics , microeconomics , politics , law
This article investigates the benefit of participation in policymaking. Based on data from interviews with various interest groups, private organisations, and representatives of regions that had been involved in recent policymaking processes in Switzerland, this study analyses the relationship between participation and satisfaction with the policy outcome. The study looks at two different aspects of outcome satisfaction: perceived consensus of a decision and preference attainment. The results show that the level of participation is related to both aspects of outcome satisfaction but that the strength of association is dependent on the type of interest group and the level of conflict among the groups participating in the decision‐making process.