ABSTRACT
Informational models of special interest politics have been around for some time now. In the economics literature, informational asymmetries are frequently identified as obstacles to efficient regulation and rent-seeking opportunities for special interests. In the political science literature, however, information has predominantly been treated as a tradable asset – an entry ticket for special interests seeking access to policymakers – while little attention has been paid to the content of that information. Only relatively few authors have also analysed the strategic use of information in political science analyses of lobbying, and very rarely have their models been subjected to empirical examination. There are also good reasons to suspect that business is qualitatively different from non-business interest groups when it comes to using knowledge and expertise strategically in politics. This book has therefore cast a closer look at the role of information and its asymmetric supply for capitalists’ ability to influence the policy process.
