ABSTRACT
Policy negotiations between parties forming a government together are conducted to establish some form of agreement. The first view of coalition agreements, and of policy bargaining during government formation, is sceptical. Parties involved in government formation are seen to bargain on policy for a coalition agreement merely to underline their willingness to form a government together. The second view of policy bargaining in government formation takes coalition agreements more seriously. This chapter deals with the possible empirical effects of coalition agreements. It focuses on policy issues that are controversial during government formation. Implicit compromises were defined as agreements to disagree, which may consist of procedural arrangements such as postponements or statements which are sufficiently general or vague that none of the parties sees its preferences violated. Coalition agreements are not legally binding contracts that are enforced by an external actor such as an independent judge.
