Inside vs. Outside Lobbying: How the Institutional Framework Shapes the Lobbying Behavior of Interest Groups

Different types of interest groups use different lobbying strategies. In this paper, we investigate this already well-established hypothesis once more, but in addition we propose that the institutional framework of the country in which interest groups operate also influence their lobbying behavior. More specifically, it is shown that groups working in the interest of the public are better integrated into the policy making process when direct democratic instruments, such as referendums, occur regularly (as in Switzerland), than when referendums are the exception (Germany). We demonstrate that Swiss cause groups, often also referred to as public interest groups in the literature, use a more balance mix of insider and outsider strategies than their German peers, but also that this moderating effect cannot be found for specific interest groups such as industry groups or unions.