The informational role of supermajorities

Emeric Henry

Journal of Public Economics, 2008, vol. 92, issue 10-11, 2225-2239

Abstract: We study a collective decision making environment where an agenda setter makes strategic proposals to privately informed voters who vote strategically. We show that, consistent with empirical evidence, it can be optimal for the agenda setter to propose supermajorities. Due to an informational role that we unveil, optimal supermajorities can be less costly than minimum winning coalitions, even though more voters are awarded a positive share. We also examine consequences in terms of quality of decision making. We show that the introduction of a strategic agenda setter can lead to socially suboptimal decisions.

Keywords: Private; information; Aggregation; of; information; in; elections; Legislative; bargaining; Supermajorities; Debates (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Working Paper: The informational role of supermajorities (2008)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:92:y:2008:i:10-11:p:2225-2239

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