Resources, Frequency, and Methods: An Analysis of Small and Medium-Sized Firms' Public Policy Activities

Abstract

This study compared the public policy interactions over time between small and medium-sized firms. Hypotheses related to firm size, frequency of activity, and influence methods were developed and tested. Small and medium-sized firms had different patterns of public policy involvement, with medium-sized firms reporting less activity but more success in influencing the public policy process than did small firms. Of the influence methods, only letter writing was significant to reported success rates. A regression analysis revealed that firm size and letterwriting variables provided the best fit in a linear-relationship model.