Discretionary policy implementation and reform

Regulatory agencies, treaty negotiators and other delegates often possess c onsiderable authority over the details of policy change. I examine how such discretion can block a Pareto-improving reform when policy change requires the support of both the Liberal and conservative factions. Gridlock, refor m and reform paradoxes all emerge as cases in a general model with perfect information. A reformer with unknown policy preferences can facilitate esca pe from a gridlock equilibrium. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r eserved. JEL classification: D70; P21.