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Gatekeeping

Author

Listed:
  • Crombez, Christophe

    (U of Leuven)

  • Groseclose, Timothy J.

    (U of California, Los Angeles)

  • Krehbiel, Keith

    (Stanford U)

Abstract

Collective choice bodies throughout the world use a diverse array of codified rules that determine who may exercise procedural rights, and in what order. This paper analyzes several two-stage decision-making models, focusing on one in which the first-moving actor has a unique, unilateral, procedural right to enforce the status quo, i.e., to exercise gatekeeping. Normative analysis using Pareto-dominance criteria reveals that the institution of gatekeeping is inferior to another institutional arrangement within this framework--namely, one in which the same actor is given a traditional veto instead of a gatekeeping right. The analytical results raise an empirical puzzle: When and why would self-organizing collective choice bodies adopt gatekeeping institutions? A qualitative survey of governmental institutions suggests that--contrary to an entrenched modeling norm within political science--empirical instances of codidied gatekeeping rights are rare or nonexistent.

Suggested Citation

  • Crombez, Christophe & Groseclose, Timothy J. & Krehbiel, Keith, 2005. "Gatekeeping," Research Papers 1861r1, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecl:stabus:1861r1
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    File URL: http://gsbapps.stanford.edu/researchpapers/library/RP1861R1.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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