The Timing, Intensity, and Composition of Interest Group Lobbying: An Analysis of Structural Policy Windows in the States

This is the first paper to statistically examine the timing of interest group lobbying. It introduces a theoretical framework based on recurring “structural policy windows” and argues that these types of windows should have a large effect on the intensity and timing of interest group activity. Using a new database of all lobbying expenditures in the U.S. states ranging up to 25 years, the paper shows interest group lobbying increases substantially during one of these structural windows in particular--the budgeting process. Spikes in lobbying during budgeting are driven primarily by business groups. Moreover, even groups relatively unaffected by budgets lobby more intensely during legislative budgeting, consistent with the theory that these interests are attempting to have legislators attach (de)regulatory riders to the budget bills. Overall, the paper demonstrates that these structural policy windows largely determine lobbying expenditures. A previous version of this paper was entitled, “The Structure of Legislatures and the Timing of Interest Group Lobbying.” I would like to thank Jim Alt, Steve Ansolabehere, Rob Lowry, David Primo, Jim Snyder, Jesper Sorensen, and Ezra Zuckerman for useful discussions. In addition, seminar participants at MIT, Wharton, Rochester, the ALEA, and APSA have provided helpful comments. I would also like to thank officials at the state ethics commissions and other lobbying disclosure agencies for providing me with the data for this paper. All errors, however, remain my own.