There's a rational explanation for gridlock, finds Prof. Wioletta Dziuda—and it means our politicians might be more rational than we give them credit for
January 25, 2016
Jake J. Smith

Whenever Congress can’t reach a decision on an important issue, news anchors and pundits love to boil the problem down to personality flaws. Our legislators, we’re told, are acting childish, headstrong, or just plain stubborn. But what if there was a rational explanation for gridlock—and it meant elected representatives are actually rational, forward-thinking decision-makers?

Chicago Harris Assistant Professor Wioletta Dziuda recently coauthored a paper that used game theory to set up a bargaining scenario, similar to that used in Congress. Playing out that scenario, it became clear: political polarization was almost impossible to avoid. Her findings suggest new ways for legislators to prevent partisan standoffs in the future.

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Wioletta Dziuda
Faculty Spotlight

Wioletta Dziuda
Associate Professor and Deputy Dean for Faculty and Research

Wioletta Dziuda is an Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy.