The interest function approach

Abstract

A group of studies of government behavior that has not been discussed yet focuses on the importance of interest groups; the so-called interest group models. These models view government behavior as an outcome of influence attempts by pressure or interest groups. Some of these studies will be discussed below. The problem is that these studies are either concerned with partial aspects of government behavior, such as regulation, or not (yet) fit for empirical application (Becker’s model, for example, which will be discussed later; see also Plotnick(1986)). This is not the case with the approach to government behavior that will be followed in parts two and three of this book, which is called the interest function approach (originally developed by Van Winden(1983)). If the concept of an interest group is taken in a wide sense, which does not necessarily require organization, then the interest function approach can also subsumed under the interest group models.