The Cost of Doing Politics: How Partisanship and Public Opinion Shape Corporate Influence

by Jane L. Sumner

Overview

Using quantitative and qualitative evidence, Sumner shows how consumer boycotts can work to dissuade companies from donating money to politicians, but may also encourage companies to attempt influence by largely invisible means. Boycotts do not work as many people expect – by threatening sales. Instead, Sumner shows how boycotts are less a statement of consumer behaviour than a way for people to signal their political inclinations, and they primarily hurt companies by tarnishing their reputation. Political influence is about building relationships, which means that companies have many more options for influence than just PAC contributions and formal lobbying. With these options available, companies can decide how to influence politics when they need to, and the tarnish of boycotts to a company's image can push some businesses to pursue options that are less noticeable to the public.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781009124584
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/21/2024
Series:	Business and Public Policy
Pages:	260
Product dimensions:	5.94(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.55(d)

About the Author

Jane L. Sumner is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Her research has been published in the Journal of Politics, Political Analysis, Political Science Research and Methods, amongst other publications.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction; 2. Where does political influence come from?; 3. How does public opinion shape corporate political advocacy?; 4. Why does the public care about corporate political influence?; 5. Why do companies care about public opinion?; 6. Do companies try to avoid public backlash?; 7. So what and now what? Summaries and concluding thoughts; Bibliography; Appendix A: Interview methods; Appendix B: Chapter 4 study methodology and full results; Appendix C: Chapter 5 robustness checks; Appendix D: Chapter 6 robustness checks; Index.

Editorial Reviews

'This book shows how the ever-present ‘threat of public backlash’ induces firms to obscure some lobbying-type actions aimed at political influence, to avoid some others altogether, and conversely intentionally to publicize a few others or at least undertake them in plain daylight without effort to hide. It convincingly establishes that ‘public backlash’ against firm political action (influence-seeking) is a form of political speech that strongly influences how, and how much, corporate political influence is exerted. Jane Lawrence Sumner’s The Cost of Doing Politics is outstanding, and important, scholarship on the powerful role of popular action in mitigating problematic firm lobbying and government influence.' Robert J. Franzese, Jr, Department of Political Science, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

'Businesses want to influence policies, at the local, state and national levels. But they may want to do so discretely, away from the spotlight of consumers or activists. Using interviews, survey experiments, social media data and corporate filings, Sumner explores how U.S. firms choose among influence strategies, such as lobbying, campaign contributions and local philanthropy. In doing so, she offers insights into corporate political activity, corporate social responsibility and consumer activism.' Layna Mosley, Professor, Department of Politics, Princeton University

'Sumner’s rigorous yet readable book makes two innovative claims: businesses pursue their interests at all levels of governments-local as well as state and federal-and they often avoid regulated campaign and lobbying spending precisely because it’s easily seen and thus a potential source of public backlash. A major contribution to the study of corporate power.' Jacob Hacker, Stanley B. Resor Professor of Political Science, Yale University

'… excellent for collections on American politics and government-business relations … Recommended.' D. Schultz, Choice

From the Publisher