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Optimal favoritism in contests with identity-contingent prizes

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  • Lu, Jingfeng
  • Wang, Zhewei
  • Zhou, Lixue

Abstract

We investigate optimal favoritism using identity-contingent prizes in a two-player Tullock model. Besides the usual balance effect, prize allocation has an extra efficiency effect: One additional unit of prize tends to induce more effort, if it is used as the winning prize for the stronger player whose marginal cost is lower. We find that a total-effort-maximizing (contest) designer should offer a larger prize to the strong player if and only if the contest is sufficiently noisy. Our paper provides a more complete analysis on identity-contingent prizes, which completes the conventional insight on levelling battle field for effort maximization in contests with asymmetric players.

Suggested Citation

  • Lu, Jingfeng & Wang, Zhewei & Zhou, Lixue, 2022. "Optimal favoritism in contests with identity-contingent prizes," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 40-50.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:196:y:2022:i:c:p:40-50
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2022.01.027
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    Cited by:

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    2. Huang, Ying & Jiao, Qian & Shen, Bo & Sun, Xiang, 2023. "Conflicts in regular networks," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Balance effect; Efficiency effect; Favoritism; Identity-contingent prizes;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions

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