Discussion paper

DP4313 Lobbying, Information Transmission and Unequal Representation

We study the effects of unequal representation in the interest-group system on the degree of information transmission between a lobbyist and a policy-maker. Employing a dynamic cheap-talk model in which the lobbyist cares instrumentally about his reputation for truth telling, we show that the larger the inequality, the less information can credibly be transmitted to the policy-maker. We also investigate the effects of inequality on welfare, and discuss the welfare effects of institutions that increase transparency but which, as an unintended side effect, lower the lobbyist?s incentives for truth telling.

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Citation

Lagerlof, J and L Frisell (2004), ‘DP4313 Lobbying, Information Transmission and Unequal Representation‘, CEPR Discussion Paper No. 4313. CEPR Press, Paris & London. https://cepr.org/publications/dp4313