RANDOMIZATION IN COALITION CONTRACTS

This article analyzes a much debated clause in the coalition contract between SPD and FDP in Rheinland-Pfalz. Two parties write a contract, based on which decisions under incomplete information have to be made at a later point in time. It is shown that a complex complete contract can achieve the first best outcome. However, a simple incomplete cont ract can implement the first best outcome only if use of seemingly ine fficient randomization is made.