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Killer Incentives: Rivalry, Performance and Risk-Taking among German Fighter Pilots, 1939–45

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  • Philipp Ager
  • Leonardo Bursztyn
  • Lukas Leucht
  • Hans-Joachim Voth

Abstract

Using newly collected data on death rates and aerial victories of more than 5,000 German fighter pilots during World War II, we examine the effects of public recognition on performance and risk-taking. When a particular pilot is honoured publicly, both the victory rate and the death rate of his former peers increase. Fellow pilots react more if they come from the same region of Germany, or if they worked closely with him. Our results suggest that personal rivalry can be a prime motivating force, and that non-financial rewards can lead to a crowd-in of both effort and risk-taking via social connections.

Suggested Citation

  • Philipp Ager & Leonardo Bursztyn & Lukas Leucht & Hans-Joachim Voth, 2022. "Killer Incentives: Rivalry, Performance and Risk-Taking among German Fighter Pilots, 1939–45," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 89(5), pages 2257-2292.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:restud:v:89:y:2022:i:5:p:2257-2292.
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    3. Julien Senn & Jan Schmitz & Christian Zehnder, 2023. "Leveraging social comparisons: the role of peer assignment policies," ECON - Working Papers 427, Department of Economics - University of Zurich, revised Aug 2023.
    4. Stark, Oded & Wlodarczyk, Julia, 2024. "Rank, stress, and risk: A conjecture," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 350(C).
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    8. Gay, Victor & Grosjean, Pauline, 2023. "Morts Pour la France: A database of French fatalities of the Great War," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    9. Maria Waldinger, 2023. "“Let Them Eat Cake”: Drought, Peasant Uprisings, and Demand for Institutional Change in the French Revolution," CESifo Working Paper Series 10303, CESifo.

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