Explaining participation bias in EU online consultations

Consulting individuals and groups who might be affected by a new policy is one of the cornerstones of democratic decision-making. However, such consultations can often suffer from a participation bias if actors require large levels of funding or expertise to play an active role in the process. Drawing on evidence from a new study, Maiken Røed and Vibeke Wøien Hansen illustrate the extent to which participation in EU online consultations is contingent on the salience and complexity of the policy issue being debated by the EU.