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Team vs. individual tournament: An organizer's dilemma

Author

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  • Shenkman, Evgenia
  • Coates, Dennis
  • Chadov, Aleksei
  • Parshakov, Petr

Abstract

Tournament theory has been supported by many pieces of empirical research in different fields. However, tournament theory literature focuses largely on the incentives of individual competitors. In our paper we develop a model the organizer choice between team and individual tournament and suggest a model of rank-order tournaments between teams. We test its implications using eSports (competitive video gaming) data. We show that both team and individual results follow tournament theory, however, there is a difference between the motivation of groups and individuals. Our study provides insights on the optimal reward structure, which should maximize effort of contestants, and, in the case of sports tournaments, entertainment value of the events.

Suggested Citation

  • Shenkman, Evgenia & Coates, Dennis & Chadov, Aleksei & Parshakov, Petr, 2022. "Team vs. individual tournament: An organizer's dilemma," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 476-492.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:198:y:2022:i:c:p:476-492
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2022.04.012
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lazear, Edward P & Rosen, Sherwin, 1981. "Rank-Order Tournaments as Optimum Labor Contracts," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 89(5), pages 841-864, October.
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    8. Danilov, Anastasia & Harbring, Christine & Irlenbusch, Bernd, 2019. "Helping under a combination of team and tournament incentives," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 120-135.
    9. Martin J. Conyon & Simon I. Peck & Graham V. Sadler, 2001. "Corporate tournaments and executive compensation: Evidence from the U.K," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(8), pages 805-815, August.
    10. Baker, G.P. & Jensen, M.C. & Murphy, K.J., 1988. "Compensation And Incentives: Practice Vs. Theory," Papers 88-05, Rochester, Business - Managerial Economics Research Center.
    11. Petr Parshakov & Dennis Coates & Marina Zavertiaeva, 2018. "Is diversity good or bad? Evidence from eSports teams analysis," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(47), pages 5064-5075, October.
    12. Rosen, Sherwin, 1986. "Prizes and Incentives in Elimination Tournaments," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 76(4), pages 701-715, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Song Wang & Zhiyuan Lin, 2024. "Pay structure and firm technological innovation: comparative research based on three pay gaps," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-21, December.
    2. Eric Mao, 2023. "The Incentive Effects of Tournaments and Peer Effects in Team Production: Evidence from Esports," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 24(2), pages 174-192, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Tournament theory; Team tournaments; eSports; Video games; Team production;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Z20 - Other Special Topics - - Sports Economics - - - General
    • J3 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs

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