Access Points: An Institutional Theory of Policy Bias and Policy Complexity - Hardcover

Ehrlich, Sean D.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0199737533 ISBN 13: 9780199737536

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2011

Synopsis

Access Points develops a new theory about how democratic institutions influence policy outcomes. Access Point Theory argues that the more points of access that institutions provide to interest groups, the cheaper lobbying will be, and, thus, the more lobbying will occur. This will lead to more complex policy, as policymakers insert specific provisions to benefit special interests, and, if one side of the debate has a lobbying advantage, to more biased policy, as the advantaged side is able to better take advantage of the cheaper lobbying. This book then uses Access Point Theory to explain why some countries have more protectionist and more complex trade policies than other; why some countries have stronger environmental and banking regulations than others; and why some countries have more complicated tax codes than others. In policy area after policy area, this book finds that more access points lead to more biased and more complex policy. Access Points provides scholars with a powerful tool to explain how political institutions matter and why countries implement the policies they do.

About this title

About the Author

Sean D. Ehrlich is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Florida State University. His research focuses on international and comparative political economy, particularly how the preferences of the public and of policymakers interact to determine economic policymaking.

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0199737533
• ISBN 13: 9780199737536
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208