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Legislative Decision Making

In: The Calculus of Consent and Constitutional Design

Author

Listed:
  • Keith L. Dougherty

    (University of Georgia)

  • Julian Edward

    (Florida International University)

Abstract

How many individuals must agree before a collective decision is imposed on a community? Buchanan and Tullock (1962) raised that question roughly fifty years ago and answered that it depends on how a community weighs decision costs and external costs. At the constitutional stage decision costs are less consequential. Hence, voting rules that produce Pareto superior and Pareto optimal outcomes (or just Pareto optimal outcomes) should be promoted. The only voting rule that could guarantee such results, and minimize external costs, is unanimity rule. At the legislative stage, the optimal k-majority rule may depend on both external costs and decision costs. With decision costs considered, the sum of decision costs and external costs might be minimized closer to majority rule.

Suggested Citation

  • Keith L. Dougherty & Julian Edward, 2011. "Legislative Decision Making," Studies in Public Choice, in: The Calculus of Consent and Constitutional Design, chapter 0, pages 57-72, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:stpchp:978-0-387-98171-0_5
    DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-98171-0_5
    as

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