James J. Anton and Dennis A. Yao
April 2021
Abstract: We examine a dynamic multi-party decision-making process in which two players face a set of unrelated proposals and each player can allocate resources to influence whether a proposal is accepted, rejected, or delayed. Delay is strategically interesting when decision makers with asymmetric preferences face multiple proposals and have limited resources to influence outcomes. A delayed decision means that a proposal beocmes part of the subsequent agenda, thereby alterning resource allocation. The opportunity to delay leads the players to act against their proposal preferences. We characterize delay equilibria and identify when players act to increase delay and pin an opponent to a recurring proposal, or to reduce delay and focus the other player on a different proposal.