News Release

Early-bird commenters well-positioned to frame public policy

New study demonstrates public commenters participating in early phases of regulatory policymaking play an important role

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Wiley

Madison, WI—April 22, 2009—A new study in the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management demonstrates that public commenters who participate during the early phases of regulatory policymaking play an important agenda setting role. Results suggest that these "public" participants—who are often interest groups—can help shape the content of regulatory proposals as they move through the regulatory process and may thwart unwanted regulations.

The study finds the first systematic quantitative evidence of the importance of early participation by the public in regulatory development. Public commenters who participate early in the process do influence the regulatory direction of the policymaking process.

The findings are also important, given recent government rhetoric surrounding the need to re-regulate or tighten regulation across several sectors, including the banking and finance sectors.

"This research suggests the great need for additional systematic knowledge regarding the politics of regulatory development and rulemaking," the authors conclude.

Keith Naughton and Celeste Schmid of the University of Southern California, Susan Webb Yackee of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Xueyong Zhan of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics analyzed data from 36 Department of Transportation rules and almost 500 comments to see if public commenters play a critical agenda-setting role during rule development.

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This study is published in the Spring 2009 issue of the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Media wishing to receive a PDF of this article may contact journalnews@bos.blackwellpublishing.net.

Susan Webb Yackee is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and can be reached for questions at syackee@lafollette.wisc.edu.

Journal of Policy Analysis and Management encompasses issues and practices in policy analysis and public management. Listed among the contributors are economists, public managers, and operations researchers. Featured regularly are book reviews and a department devoted to discussing ideas and issues of importance to practitioners, researchers, and academics.

Wiley-Blackwell was formed in February 2007 as a result of the acquisition of Blackwell Publishing Ltd. by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., and its merger with Wiley's Scientific, Technical, and Medical business. Together, the companies have created a global publishing business with deep strength in every major academic and professional field. Wiley-Blackwell publishes approximately 1,400 scholarly peer-reviewed journals and an extensive collection of books with global appeal. For more information on Wiley-Blackwell, please visit www.wiley.com or http://interscience.wiley.com.


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