Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/85601 
Year of Publication: 
1999
Series/Report no.: 
Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper No. 99-050/1
Publisher: 
Tinbergen Institute, Amsterdam and Rotterdam
Abstract: 
This paper offers an explanation for why policy makers stick to inefficient policy decisions. I argue that repealing a policy is a bad signal to voters about the policy maker's competence if voters do not have complete knowledge about the effects of implemented policies. I derive the optimal policy maker's decision on continuation of a policy, assuming that voters' beliefs about the policy maker's competence are updated according to Bayes' rule. I show that if the policy maker cares sufficiently about reelection, he will never repeal a policy.
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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