Informational Pathologies of Bicameralism
نویسنده
چکیده
A common rationale for bicameralism is that a second look at proposed legislation results in the enactment of informationally better legislation than that enacted by unicameral legislatures. This argument neglects that choices by bicameral chambers to acquire information arise within the strategic environment formed by the interplay of the chambers. Because information is costly, bicameral chambers may attempt to free ride on each other in choosing whether to acquire information. A simple game-theoretic model demonstrates that, under identified parameters, legislation enacted by a bicameral legislature is on average informationally worse – and society is worse off – than if the same legislation had been enacted by a unicameral legislature.
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