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The committee assignment process as an optimal contracting problem

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  • Joseph McGarrity

Abstract

This paper adapts a simple model from the optimal contracting literature to explain the relationship between political parties and non-incumbent candidates. The model predicts that legislators with a higher opportunity cost of government service will receive better committee assignments. Using data that spans 12 Congresses (97th to 108th), I find that when the opportunity cost of Senate service is measured by previous occupation, freshmen senators with a high opportunity cost for serving (those who were lawyers) were given good committee assignments, while freshmen senators with a low opportunity cost for serving (professors, and those with relatives already in politics) were given worse committee assignments. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2006

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph McGarrity, 2006. "The committee assignment process as an optimal contracting problem," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 128(3), pages 433-455, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:pubcho:v:128:y:2006:i:3:p:433-455
    DOI: 10.1007/s11127-005-9009-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Grier, Kevin B & Munger, Michael C, 1991. "Committee Assignments, Constituent Preferences, and Campaign Contributions," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 29(1), pages 24-43, January.
    2. Coker, David C & Crain, W Mark, 1994. "Legislative Committees as Loyalty-Generating Institutions," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 81(3-4), pages 195-221, December.
    3. Katz, Jonathan N. & Sala, Brian R., 1996. "Careerism, Committee Assignments, and the Electoral Connection," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 90(1), pages 21-33, March.
    4. W. Crain & John Sullivan, 1997. "Committee characteristics and re-election margins: An empirical investigation of the US House," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 93(3), pages 271-285, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Daniel J. Smith, 2020. "Turn-taking in office," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 31(2), pages 205-226, June.

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