Interest Groups and Collective Action on the Internet :: Business Roundtable Papers

engagement Groups and Collective Action on the Internet The Business Roundtable is a unique business-oriented interest group. The BRT was established in 1972, founded in the belief that the oldtimer executive officers of major corporations should take an increased role in governmental debates and public policy on economic and trade issues. Indeed, the entire rank of the BRT is comprised of CEOs. However, a permanent seat on the BRT is granted to a company, non its CEO. For example, Philip Condit currently fills Boeings seat on the BRT, but if Boeing replaced Condit as CEO, his exchange would serve as Boeings representative.There are currently 131 corporations with pose on the BRT. This size is relatively small and the high-profile nature of its members makes the organization real influential in governmental circles. BRT is sometimes criticized as a favour group, particularly by union-oriented interest groups, such as the AFL-CIO. Another advantage of BRTs small rank and file is their capacity to overcome the collective legal action problem outlined by Mancur Olson in, The Logic of Collective Action. This theory says that political groups with large memberships face a free-rider problem. Each individual member rationally views their own participation as insignificant and therefore, does not actively come in counterbalance though they still receive the benefits in the end1. The BRT overcomes this problem finished their small membership and their ability to meet face-to-face, once a course of study in Washington to set their agenda for the year and assign issue-oriented taskforces. personalise face-to-face meetings strengthen the relationships between members and reduce the chance of free riding.The BRT has a single stated objective to promote policies that will lead to sustainable, non-inflationary, long growth in the U.S. economy. Although each member speaks as a individual, even before lawmakers, the BRT believes that the bas ic interests of business closely parallel the interests of the American large number who are directly involved as consumers, employees, shareholders, and suppliers. In fact, the 131 members of BRT have a combined workforce of more than 10 million employees in the U.S.2BRT membership is granted by invitation only. The company is the member and its representative is the Chief executive director Officer. The participation of the CEO is the distinguishing feature of the BRT. The BRT is headed by a chairman, two co-chairmen, a nominating committee chairman, a president and executive director.