Existing political science literature tells us that the common factors of political participation include factors such as civic skills, available free time, and income. However, few have expanded their studies to include to private politics, and to see what factors influence private political participation. Private political participation refers to “the use of market mechanisms to change business practices rather than the more traditional route of relying on public institutions instating regulation” (Diermeier 2009). I conducted three studies detailed in this dissertation, which examine when individuals decide to engage in private politics over public politics, the motivations of individuals who do chose to engage in private politics, and legislators’ reactions to private politics efforts. My results suggest that the same mechanisms which influence public political participation influence private political participation, with the rather large exception of efficacy. Individuals who believe businesses are more likely to listen and react to their concerns are more likely to turn to private politics. Furthermore, a further study helps to illustrate that legislators respond to both private politics as to public politics with policy action. In my conclusion, I discuss the significance of these findings and how they can help motivate further research

Last modified

• 11/01/2018

Creator

• Julia Valdes

DOI

• https://doi.org/10.21985/N2WJ1G

Subject

• Political Science

Keyword

• Political Science

Date created

• 2017-01-01

Resource type

• Dissertation

Rights statement

• In Copyright