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Group size and group success in conflicts

Author

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  • Martin Kolmar

    (University of St. Gallen)

  • Hendrik Rommeswinkel

    (National Taiwan University)

Abstract

This paper analyzes the occurrence of the group-size paradox in situations in which groups compete for rents, allowing for degrees of rivalry of the rent among group members. We provide two intuitive criteria for the group-impact function which for groups with within-group symmetric valuations of the rent determine whether there are advantages or disadvantages for larger groups: social-interactions effects and returns to scale. For groups with within-group asymmetric valuations, the complementarity of group members’ efforts and the composition of valuations are shown to play a role as further factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Kolmar & Hendrik Rommeswinkel, 2020. "Group size and group success in conflicts," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 55(4), pages 777-822, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sochwe:v:55:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s00355-020-01264-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s00355-020-01264-0
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