Grease or Sand in the Wheels of Democracy?

The market for lobbying in New Zealand

Authors

  • Simon Chapple
  • Thomas Anderson

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26686/pq.v14i2.5089

Keywords:

lobbying, vested interests, transparency, OECD, nature of lobbying, regulation, parliamentary access

Abstract

What is the nature of the New Zealand market for political lobbying? Is lobbying grease in the wheels of a well-functioning democracy – adding to overall societal efficiency – as its supporters suggest? Or is lobbying sand, wasting resources in buying redistribution to the powerful and damaging the social fabric essential for a wellfunctioning democratic mixed economy, as opponents of lobbying believe? And, should we regulate lobbying in New Zealand, and why? This article concludes that the question is not whether lobbying should be made more transparent via regulation, but rather how this can best be achieved.

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Published

2018-05-14

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 2 (2018): Policy Quarterly

Section

Articles

License

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