The Super Case-Study

The Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (The Super Committee) offers an unusual opportunity to study the behavior of our elected representatives. This committee is charged with the task to reduce our deficit and help support long-term financial solvency. The uniqueness of this committee offers an interesting way of thinking about and evaluating the different aspects that effect representative behavior.

Because the deadline is looming, the committee has regained attention. While there is a consensus on the end goal: that the government needs to get its financial house in order, there is left-right disagreement about how to do it.

It is clear that 'the people' want to see financial reform, but whether it is through tax hikes or budget cuts is unclear...it seems that some sort of combination would appeal to the median voter (this will be the assumption). Therefore, in order to represent the

median voter 4 people must agree to compromise. In fact, this committee seems to be built in order to incentivize compromise as much as possible. There seems to be no way to form a geographical coalition (see map) and if there were, it is unclear what consensus such a coalition could come to.Cuts will be made regardless of the super-committee but neither side would be happy. While it will cut spending it will largely affect the DoD and Homeland Security. Furthermore, the committee is made up of 6 democrats and 6 republicans: in order pass anything, someone has to cross party lines.

Basically, 'shirking' will happen if the committee fails, the representatives will prove to be strictly ideological in the most important of issues (perhaps revealing their own costs of 'shirking' ideologically) and in fact allow legislation to pass that would not be preferred to almost any compromise. I am not saying that passing legislation would magically appeal to the median voter, however it would do something which most people, it would seem, want.

Ideology is the only barrier to passing legislation. Will this unprecedented super committee compromise, or will they make an irrational decision to accept budget cuts that would not be preferred by any individual congressman (transitive preferences).