Institutional Commitment Problems and Regional Autonomy: The Catalan Case

This article examines what constitutional arrangements are more likely to facilitate the transfer of effective decision-making power regional level. We show that certain can result in institutional commitment problems between minority and national majority groups, which turn influence levels autonomy across regions. Specifically, we examine how depth scope decentralization depend on presence federal agreements availability guarantees make contracts credible. Analyzing regional-level data, regions where identity groups majoritarian enjoy when problem has resulted a satisfactory accommodation. Our findings highlight two important scenarios. The first occurs is solved, granted substantial autonomy. second scenario takes place not institutionally accommodated, hence have systematically lower illustrates both credible tools understand powers.