Corporate social responsibility Corporations also guide their behaviors following standards of social behavior (in addition to profit and government laws) Stakeholders Utilitarian perspective: Allocative efficiency Rights view: Golden rule

11:30 class

1:00 class 11:30 class

Chapter 7: business, interest groups, and political influence Tactics and practices on how public policy gets done. In comparison with the market we expect more cooperation instead of competition between groups and individuals

The public interest It is an abstraction about what advances the welfare of the population. People defend or oppose policies in the name of the public interest. The public interest cannot be found by adding up private interests to find the most widely acceptable alternative. Policy making can become a question of might more than right, of who gets to control the policy agenda.

Group based politics Most of the time, people get involved only when angry There are many interest groups working to influence the policy making process Interest group competition Narrow interests competing

Types of interest groups Business –Large corporations independently. Small companies and corporations through alliances –Peak association: general purpose business group –Trade association Workers Public interest

Is business on top? More than in other countries Companies have money It is cheaper to organize smaller than larger groups But interest of corporations are fragmented Most likely in narrow questions that attract little public attention

Tactics: Public issues management Public communication Public policy research institutes or think tanks Philanthropy Lobbying

The mechanics of lobbying Having information that elected officials and their staff want or need Campaign donations

The information campaign Either behind close doors and increasingly through public grassroots organizing campaigns. Lobbying would be OK if lobbying groups were really fragmented and there was competition.

Campaign donations Directly to candidates rather limited. Independent expenditures

Interest groups “quiz” Which one is the phony one?