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Alesina, Alberto, and
Guido Tabellini. 2007. "Bureaucrats or Politicians? Part I: A Single Policy Task."
,
97(1): 169-179.
Show Article Details
DOI: 10.1257/aer.97.1.169
Abstract:This paper investigates the normative criteria that guide the allocation of a policy
task to an elected politician versus an independent bureaucrat. The bureaucrat is
preferable for technical tasks for which ability is more important than effort, or if
there is great uncertainty about whether the policymaker has the required abilities.
The optimal allocation of redistributive tasks is ambiguous, and depends on how the
bureaucrat can be instructed. But irrespective of the normative conclusion, the
politician prefers not to delegate redistributive policies. (JEL D72, D73, D82)
Authors:
Alesina, Alberto
Tabellini, Guido
JEL Classifications:
:
None
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