Interest groups shape policy independent of citizen and elite preferences.
Evidence
Our findings of substantial influence by interest groups is particularly striking because little or no previous research has been able to estimate the extent of group influence while controlling for the preferences of other key nongovernmental actors. Our evidence clearly indicates that—controlling for the influence of both the average citizen and economic elites—organized interest groups have a very substantial independent impact upon public policy. Theories of interest-group pluralism gain a strong measure of empirical support. — Martin Gilens and Benjamin I. Page, Testing Theories of American Politics, 113
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Average citizens have little independent influence on U.S. policy relative to economic elites. — Martin Gilens and Benjamin I. Page, Testing Theories of American Politics:…, 1; Policy outcomes modestly favor the side with greater interest-group resources. — Martin Gilens and Benjamin I. Page, Testing Theories of American Politics:…, 45; Organized interest-group stances do not substantially track average citizens’ preferences. — Martin Gilens and Benjamin I. Page, Testing Theories of American Politics:…, 76 (+11 more)
Broader Connections
- U.S. policy outcomes contradict majority preferences whenever elites or organized interests disagree
#corroborates(0.88) - Interest groups do not amplify majority policy preferences; business groups dominate despite opposing them.
#corroborates(0.86) — Martin Gilens and Benjamin I. Page, Testing Theories of American Politics, 125 - Correlated elite and mass preferences do not reflect citizen influence on policy.
#corroborates(0.85) — Martin Gilens and Benjamin I. Page, Testing Theories of American Politics, 135 - Interest groups more often oppose than favor proposed policy changes.
#expands(0.82) — Martin Gilens and Benjamin I. Page, Testing Theories of American Politics, 116 - Ordinary citizens hold little independent influence over U.S. policy
#corroborates(0.80) - Small networked elite groups can dominate policy debates without being a majority
#exemplifies(0.78) — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 443 - Business interest groups oppose policy changes less often than mass-based groups do.
#complicates(0.76)