Single-Undertaking and Sectoral Approach

Abstract

This paper considers two alternative procedures for multi-issue bargaining, so-called sectoral approach (issue-by-issue bargaining) and single-undertaking (single package bargaining), and compares the outcomes under the alternative procedures. It is asserted that if early agreement in an issue is particularly important to a bargaining party so that it makes his overall delay costs too high, he may strictly prefer to bargain the issue separately rather than bargain both issues at once.