Other Collective Organisations

• a body of experts bought together to collectively focus on a certain topic(s)
• investigate and offer solutions to often complicated and seemingly intractable economic, social or political issues
• usually founded on research and develop ideas in specific areas
• usually funded by endowments from wealthy patrons or businesses, but may also be funded by public donations or be affiliated with an academic institution

• carry out policy research - taken this role from political parties
• away from public scrutiny and so policy can be tested before a party may adopt it as official policy
• many are founded with a clear aim/objective in mind 
• arguably don't provide research that supports the public point of view - instead, the particular point of view to meet that demands of its donor

Institute of Economic Affairs

• free-market think tank
• close ties to Conservative party
• critical of government measures to reduce/restrict harmful activities such as smoking bans
• called for privatisation of NHS
• on of its donors is British American Tobacco and so raises questions whether its acting in public's or donor's interests 

National Institute of Social and Economic Research

• February 2020 scrutinised Givernment's budget
• raised questions about the viability of its growth targets 
• example of how think tanks help to promote a pluralist and well-educated society due to its publicising of competing views and range of ideas/opinions

• a lobbyist is paid by clients to try and influence the government and/or MPs and members of the House of Lords to act in their clients' interests, particularly when legislation in under consideration
• lobbying is the act of trying to persuade those in power to follow a particular course of action
• loobyists and lobbying companies usually emply people with close relationships to those in power, such as former advisers or staff for particular politicians, and expertise in which bodies committees and groups may target

• effectively sell insider status
• give clients political blueprint to help put pressure on the government - through charity seeking, additional government funding, trying to persuade the government to adopt a new strategy
• can arrange events for their clients to have an opportunity to meet with those in power
• can meet on behalf of their clients to directly persuade those in power directly at private meetings

• large corporations have become so bug and influential thet the now qualify as a kind of sectional pressure group on their own 
• eg Google, Starbucks, Amazon, Facebook
• resist proposed legislation that may hinder their operations
• emphasise the positive role they play in the national economy
• strategically important role in economy - employ large number of people, accout for a large proportion of economic activity
• insider status 
• have own 'in-house' think tanks and lobbyists
• success example: resistance of companies such as Starbucks, Google, Microsoft to pay more in UK taxes on profits