Who Controls the Agenda Controls the Polity by Nageeb Ali

Join us for another event in the Microeconomics Research Seminar Series, Summer Term 2023.

Join Nageeb Ali from Department of Economics, Pennsylvania State University, will present their research on Who Controls the Agenda Controls the Polity.

Abstract

This paper models legislative decision-making with an agenda setter who can propose policies sequentially, tailoring each proposal to the status quo that prevails after prior votes. Voters are sophisticated and the agenda setter cannot commit to her future proposals. Nevertheless, the agenda setter obtains her favorite outcome in every equilibrium regardless of the initial default policy. Central to our results is a new condition on preferences, manipulability, that holds in rich policy spaces, including spatial settings and distribution problems. Our results overturn the conventional wisdom that voter sophistication alone constrains an agenda setter’s power.

This seminar will be held in the Economics Common Room on Monday 8 May 2023 at 3.30pm. This event is open to all levels of study and is also open to the public.

To register your place and gain access to the webinar, please contact the seminar organisers.

This event is part of the Microeconomics Research Seminar Series.