Rational Gridlock

40 Pages Posted: 10 Jun 2024 Last revised: 25 Nov 2024

See all articles by Scott Baker

Scott Baker

Washington University in St. Louis - School of Law

Michael D. Gilbert

University of Virginia School of Law

Date Written: June 09, 2024

Abstract

We examine the design of lawmaking institutions when advocates have agenda setting power and there is randomness in the status quo laws eligible for reform. The institutional designer maximizes voter welfare. We find that the optimal arrangement consists of two lawmaking institutions that must agree to enact any reforms. The institutions do not share preferences with one another or with the median voter. As a result, gridlock arises: the institutions reject some reforms that the median voter favors. However, when reform succeeds, it tends to be modest in scope and to more closely track what the median voter prefers. The optimal institutional design trades off the cost of failing to change law due to gridlock against the benefit of forcing advocates to moderate their proposals and offer more centrist reforms. Surprisingly, voters are best served by a pair of polarized and unrepresentative institutions.

Keywords: pivotal politics, legislative design, constraining advocates, gridlock, agenda setting, purposeful polarization, bicameralism, separation of powers, checks and balances

JEL Classification: D02, D6, D60, D71, D72, H1, K00, K10, K19, K30, P00

Suggested Citation

Baker, Scott A. and Gilbert, Michael, Rational Gridlock (June 09, 2024). Virginia Public Law and Legal Theory Research Paper No. 2024-47 , Virginia Law and Economics Research Paper No. 2024-23, Washington University in St. Louis Legal Studies Research Paper Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4859941 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4859941

Scott A. Baker

Washington University in St. Louis - School of Law ( email )

Campus Box 1120
St. Louis, MO 63130
United States

Michael Gilbert (Contact Author)

University of Virginia School of Law ( email )

580 Massie Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903
United States

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