The information portfolios of interest groups: An exploratory analysis

Though we have learned a great deal about lobbying in recent years, many questions remain unanswered. Among them are these questions: When lobbyists provide information to government decision-makers, what kind do they provide? Do different kinds of lobbyists use different kinds of information? And how do sources of opposition affect the kinds of informational arguments utilized by lobbyists? We address these questions using data from a survey of nearly 200 lobbyists in five American states. Among our most important findings are the following: (i)Much of the information that lobbyists provide to policymakers is policy analytical in nature; (ii) There are surprisingly few differences in information provision across lobbyist and group types; and (iii) The differences in information provision that do exist likely derive from the policy environment in which lobbyists operate, especially the level of conflict they face.