Assigning powers in the European Union in the light of yardstick competition among governments

Abstract

Intergovernmental yardstick competition is based on voters comparing the performance of their own elected government with what obtains in other jurisdictions. This mechanism can produce results that are favourable to voters but it may also be the case that it has consequences that are not favourable. Both cases are given some attention in the essay. Some of their implications for the assignment of powers in the European Union are then derived.