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Information, Commitment and Consensus: A Comparison of Three Perspectives on Delegation in the European Union

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  • Thomson, Robert
  • Torenvlied, René

Abstract

Three perspectives on delegation in the European Union are presented in this article. The transaction-costs perspective focuses on information asymmetries between policy makers and implementers. According to the commitment perspective, policy makers delegate authority as a solution to commitment problems. The consensus-building perspective views the decision to delegate as a trade-off between decisiveness and inclusiveness during the bargaining process. Hypotheses are derived from these perspectives regarding the amount of delegation to both the European Commission and to member states in legislation. From detailed information on eighty-six EU laws, there is some evidence for the transaction-costs perspective as an explanation of delegation to the Commission. With respect to delegation to member states, there is some evidence for both the transaction-costs perspective and the consensus-building perspective.

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  • Thomson, Robert & Torenvlied, René, 2011. "Information, Commitment and Consensus: A Comparison of Three Perspectives on Delegation in the European Union," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 41(1), pages 139-159, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:bjposi:v:41:y:2011:i:01:p:139-159_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Markus Gastinger & Andreas Dür, 2021. "Joint bodies in the European Union's international agreements: Delegating powers to the European Commission in EU external relations," European Union Politics, , vol. 22(4), pages 611-630, December.
    2. Thomas König & Bernd Luig, 2012. "Party ideology and legislative agendas: Estimating contextual policy positions for the study of EU decision-making," European Union Politics, , vol. 13(4), pages 604-625, December.
    3. Ana Mar Fernández Pasarín & Nuria Font, 2022. "Unveiling Inconsistency: Consensus and Contestation along the Council–Comitology Cycle of EU Policy‐Making," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(2), pages 427-444, March.
    4. Nora Dörrenbächer & Ellen Mastenbroek, 2019. "Passing the buck? Analyzing the delegation of discretion after transposition of European Union law," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 13(1), pages 70-85, March.
    5. Adrian Daniel STAN & Brindusa Nicoleta PINCU, 2015. "Will The Eu`S Boat Float In Murky Post-Crisis Waters? An Assessment Of Eu`S Economic And Financial Agenda," CES Working Papers, Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, vol. 7(3), pages 774-784, September.

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