ArticleManagement Science (INFORMS)

Political Polarization and Nonmarket Strategy over the Policy Life Cycle

Thomas P. Lyon and John W. Maxwell, 2025
https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/10.1287/mnsc.2025.00819

This academic article analyzes how political polarization affects corporate nonmarket strategies—such as lobbying, advocacy, and coalition-building—across different stages of the policy life cycle. It shows how polarization changes the risks and payoffs of engagement, complicating firms’ ability to influence policy without triggering backlash or strategic misalignment. 

Notes on Related Topics

Political Risk (A) – Polarization increases the unpredictability of policy engagement outcomes. 
Reputational Risks (A) – Poorly timed or framed engagement can provoke backlash and reputational harm. 
 

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