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Innovation through competitive experimentation

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  • Achim, Peter

Abstract

This paper studies optimal contest design for competitive experimentation. A principal wants to implement a project and seeks contributions from multiple agents that increase the value of the project. The agent’s chances of success are independent and their experimentation efforts are unobservable. To induce effort, the principal offers a mechanism that specifies rewards and a termination time which depend on the history of past contributions. I characterize the optimal contest and show that the principal limits the agents’ rent by setting inefficiently tight stopping thresholds.

Suggested Citation

  • Achim, Peter, 2024. "Innovation through competitive experimentation," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:mateco:v:111:y:2024:i:c:s0304406824000193
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jmateco.2024.102957
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Benny Moldovanu & Aner Sela, 2008. "The Optimal Allocation of Prizes in Contests," Springer Books, in: Roger D. Congleton & Arye L. Hillman & Kai A. Konrad (ed.), 40 Years of Research on Rent Seeking 1, pages 615-631, Springer.
    2. , & ,, 2012. "A principal-agent model of sequential testing," Theoretical Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 7(3), September.
    3. Johannes Hörner & Larry Samuelson, 2013. "Incentives for experimenting agents," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 44(4), pages 632-663, December.
    4. Godfrey Keller & Sven Rady & Martin Cripps, 2005. "Strategic Experimentation with Exponential Bandits," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 73(1), pages 39-68, January.
    5. Yeon-Koo Che & Ian Gale, 2003. "Optimal Design of Research Contests," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 93(3), pages 646-671, June.
    6. repec:cwl:cwldpp:1726rrr is not listed on IDEAS
    7. repec:cwl:cwldpp:1726rr is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Marina Halac & Navin Kartik & Qingmin Liu, 2017. "Contests for Experimentation," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 125(5), pages 1523-1569.
    9. Moroni, Sofia, 2022. "Experimentation in Organizations," Theoretical Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 17(3), July.
    10. Marina Halac & Navin Kartik & Qingmin Liu, 2016. "Optimal Contracts for Experimentation," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 83(3), pages 1040-1091.
    11. Kostas Bimpikis & Shayan Ehsani & Mohamed Mostagir, 2019. "Designing Dynamic Contests," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 67(2), pages 339-356, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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