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Optimally Dictatorial Committees

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  • D. Carlos Akkar

Abstract

I study the optimal voting mechanism for a committee that must decide whether to enact or block a policy of unknown benefit. Information can come both from committee members who can acquire it at cost, and a strategic lobbyist who wishes the policy to be enacted. I show that the dictatorship of the most-demanding member is a dominant voting mechanism: any other voting mechanism is (i) less likely to enact a good policy, (ii) more likely to enact a bad policy, and (iii) burdens each member with a greater cost of acquiring information.

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  • D. Carlos Akkar, 2025. "Optimally Dictatorial Committees," Papers 2507.21699, arXiv.org, revised Aug 2025.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2507.21699
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    1. Hao Li, 2001. "A Theory of Conservatism," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 109(3), pages 617-636, June.
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