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Opacity in bargaining over public good provision

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  • Julian Lamprecht
  • Marcel Thum

Abstract

We consider ultimatum bargaining over the provision of a public good. Offer‐maker and responder can delegate their decisions to agents whose actual decision rules are opaque. We show that the responder will benefit from strategic opacity, even with bilateral delegation. The incomplete information created by strategic opacity choices does not lead to inefficient negotiation failure in equilibrium. Inefficiencies arise from an inefficient provision level. While an agreement will always be reached, the public good provision will fall short of the socially desirable level. Compared with unilateral delegation, bilateral delegation is never worse from a welfare perspective.

Suggested Citation

  • Julian Lamprecht & Marcel Thum, 2023. "Opacity in bargaining over public good provision," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 25(5), pages 1069-1095, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jpbect:v:25:y:2023:i:5:p:1069-1095
    DOI: 10.1111/jpet.12646
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C78 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Bargaining Theory; Matching Theory
    • H40 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - General

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