Democratic Governance and Decision Making

Under what conditions are public policies in a democracy determined by special interests or, alternatively, by the general interest?  A good deal of academic work, particularly associated with the economic theory of regulation, suggests that special interests nearly always dominate policy outcomes.  In this line of research, Professor Moss seeks to test that presumption against the historical record in the United States and to identify (and better understand) the historical circumstances under which either special interest or general interest has been relatively more influential in shaping legislative and regulatory outcomes.