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Lobbying

Although lobbying can be a positive force in democracy, it can also be a mechanism for powerful groups to influence laws and regulations at the expense of the public interest.

This may result in undue influence, unfair competition and policy capture, to the detriment of effective policy making.

While many countries are addressing lobbying related risks, practices to influence public policies have evolved beyond lobbying, and more than half of OECD countries have yet to address risks related to interactions of lobbying groups with public officials. 

Influence in policy-making

Influencing policy-makers is a core part of a democratic system. Lobbyists and advocacy groups bring valuable information to the policy debate. In practice, however, powerful groups can exert influence to further their particular interests, often at the expense of the public interest.

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Coalition of influencers

The Coalition welcomes stakeholders from government, business, academia and civil society working on integrity related to decision-making. It is designed to serve as an inclusive and non-discriminatory platform to constructively examine the tools and effects of vested interests’ influence on public policy.

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10 Lobbying Principles

The OECD Recommendation on Principles for Transparency and Integrity in Lobbying provides guidance in 10 principles for decision-makers on how to promote good governance in lobbying.

It is based on 3 main objectives:

  • Build an effective and fair framework for openness and access
  • Enhance transparency
  • Foster a culture of integrity

 

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This new report takes stock of progress made in implementing the Principles for Transparency and Integrity in Lobbying.

Timeline of lobbying regulations

To go further

You may want to check these reports:

  • Preventing Policy CaptureThis report exposes how “policy capture”, where public decisions over policies are consistently or repeatedly directed away from the public interest towards a specific interest, can exacerbate inequalities and undermine democratic values, economic growth and trust in government. 

  • Financing DemocracyWhat are the risks associated with the funding of political parties and election campaigns? Why are existing regulatory models still insufficient to tackle those risks? What are the links between money in politics and broader frameworks for integrity in the public sector? This report addresses these three questions.

  • Lobbyists, Governments and Public Trust, Volume 3: This report takes stock of progress made in implementing the 2010 Recommendation on Principles for Transparency and Integrity in Lobbying – the only international instrument addressing major risks in the public decision-making process related to lobbying. The review process found that although there is an emerging consensus on the need for transparency to shed light on lobbying, new regulations are often scandal-driven instead of forward looking. In countries that have regulations in place, the degree of transparency in lobbying varies considerably across OECD members.

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The research

See our country reports, comparative evidence and analysis of international practices:

All resources on the topic

Contact us

Contact the public sector integrity division at:

GOV.integrity@oecd.org