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Title: Corruption and Bicameral Reforms

Author(s): Giovanni Facchini and Cecilia Testa

Publication Date: May 2016

Keyword(s): Bicameralism, Corruption and Lobbying

Programme Area(s): Public Economics

Abstract: During the last decade unicameral proposals have been put forward in fourteen US states. In this paper we analyze the effects of the proposed constitutional reforms, in a setting where decision making is subject to `hard time constraints', and lawmakers face the opposing interests of a lobby and the electorate. We show that bicameralism might lead to a decline in the lawmakers' bargaining power vis-a-vis the lobby, thus compromising their accountability to voters. Hence, bicameralism is not a panacea against the abuse of power by elected legislators and the proposed unicameral reforms could be effective in reducing corruption among elected representatives.

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Bibliographic Reference

Facchini, G and Testa, C. 2016. 'Corruption and Bicameral Reforms'. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=11281