The role of information in the reconciliation of interests of lobbyists and politicians

Rarely someone denies the importance of lobbying and the influence of lobbyists. Nevertheless, the question of why this influence is possible remains largely open. After the traditional explanations centered on the financial links between the politician and the lobbyists have been dismissed information was suggested as a missing link in the interaction between the actors. The model of persuasion has been elaborated in order to encompass the process of information transmission within legislative committees. Lobbyists are viewed as only one of the possible sources of information for politicians who need data to make the optimal decision. The main rivals of lobbyists are other politicians in the legislature. The existence of competition among the sources of information creates mechanisms for its verification. The preliminary empirical analysis has demonstrated the general correctness of the theoretical propositions.