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Voting in Small Committees

Author

Listed:
  • Paolo Balduzzi
  • Clara Graziano
  • Annalisa Luporini
Abstract
A small committee has to approve/reject a project with uncertain return. Members have different preferences: some are value-maximizers, others are biased towards approval. We focus on the efficient use of scarce information when communication is not guaranteed, and we provide insights on the optimal committee composition. We show that the presence of biased members can improve the voting outcome by simplifying the strategies of unbiased members. Thus, heterogeneous committees perform at least as well as homogeneous committees. In particular, when value-maximizers outnumber biased members by one vote, the optimal equilibrium becomes unique. Finally, allowing members to communicate brings no improvement.

Suggested Citation

  • Paolo Balduzzi & Clara Graziano & Annalisa Luporini, 2012. "Voting in Small Committees," CESifo Working Paper Series 3732, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_3732
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Maria Flavia Ambrosanio & Paolo Balduzzi & Massimo Bordignon, 2015. "Who should review public spending?," ECONOMIA PUBBLICA, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2015(1), pages 109-127.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    voting; small committees; committees composition; communication in committees;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D71 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Social Choice; Clubs; Committees; Associations
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior

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