GOVT 1111 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Mancur Olson, Lubricant, Plutocracy
12 Jun 2016
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General trend of increasing average cost of campaigns for house winners. Interest groups: organized group of individuals or organizations that make policy- related appeals to the government. Madison: federalist paper #10: the most common and durable source of factions has been the unequal distribution of property. Pluralism: all interests free to compete for influence; result assumed to be compromise and moderation via accommodation. The logic of collective action: mancur olson, 1965, collective goods: benefits widely available, can"t be denied to non-members, non-contributors, free riding, concentrated vs. diffuse benefits. Material benefits: can be measured in 29007 Purposive benefits: advocacy, representation before gov"t, participation in public affairs. Concentrated interests: those with clear narrow interests in particular policy outcomes. Evidence: encouraging advocacy, committee action (hall & wayman 1990) Interest groups" preferences follow the same trend as economic elites" preferences. Share of political contributions from the top 0. 01% increasing. The case of the for-profit colleges: money as a lubricant.
