The Structure and Conduct of Corporate Lobbying: How Firms Lobby the Federal Communications Commission

Posted: 4 Apr 2001

See all articles by John M. de Figueiredo

John M. de Figueiredo

Duke University School of Law; Duke University - Fuqua School of Business; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative

Emerson H. Tiller

Northwestern University - Pritzker School of Law

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Abstract

This paper examines the amount and organization (individual vs. collective) of lobbying by firms in administrative agencies. It explores the power and limitations of the collective-action theories and transaction-cost theories in explaining lobbying. It introduces a dataset of over 900 lobbying contacts covering 101 issues at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in early 1998. It finds that the structure and conduct of large-firm lobbying at the FCC is consistent with the predictions of theories of transaction costs and the main results of theories of collective action. Small firms show little sensitivity to collective-action issues or transaction-cost issues in the organization of their lobbying, but they do lobby less when having to reveal proprietary information. In sum, large firms behave in a manner largely consistent with theoretical predictions, while small firms do not.

JEL Classification: K2, L5

Suggested Citation

de Figueiredo, John M. and Tiller, Emerson H., The Structure and Conduct of Corporate Lobbying: How Firms Lobby the Federal Communications Commission. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=263302

John M. De Figueiredo (Contact Author)

Duke University School of Law ( email )

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Box 90362
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Duke University - Fuqua School of Business ( email )

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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative

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Emerson H. Tiller

Northwestern University - Pritzker School of Law ( email )

375 E. Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
United States

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