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Sequential Teamwork in Competitive Environments: Theory and Evidence from Swimming Data

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  • Michael Neugart
  • Matteo Richiardi

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to assess whether there is free-riding in teams when team production is sequential and when there is competition between teams. This a common case, which, however, has not been considered in the literature so far. We develop a model where team members contributing earlier have an incentive to free-ride more even when there is competition between teams. These predictions are tested on more than 300.000 observations on swimmers’ performance at competitions from all over the world. We find that swimmers in relays perform weaker as compared to their individual performance, and that earlier swimmers’ performance in relays is weaker relative to later swimmers. Our results suggest that competition does not solve the free-riding problem in team production with sequential contributions.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Neugart & Matteo Richiardi, 2011. "Sequential Teamwork in Competitive Environments: Theory and Evidence from Swimming Data," LABORatorio R. Revelli Working Papers Series 109, LABORatorio R. Revelli, Centre for Employment Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:cca:wplabo:109
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    Cited by:

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    2. Bar-Eli, Michael & Krumer, Alex & Morgulev, Elia, 2020. "Ask not what economics can do for sports - Ask what sports can do for economics," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    3. Matthes, Julian & Piazolo, David, 2024. "Don’t Put All Your Legs in One Basket: Theory and Evidence on Coopetition in Road Cycling," Working Papers 0751, University of Heidelberg, Department of Economics.
    4. Philipp Wegelin & Johannes Orlowski & Helmut M. Dietl, 2022. "The importance of high performing team members in complex team work: Results from quasi‐experiments in professional team sports," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 60(3), pages 1296-1310, July.
    5. Ashby, Nathan J., 2023. "An examination of peer effects using high school competition realignments," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 122-135.
    6. Xiandeng Jiang, 2018. "Relative Performance Prizes and Dynamic Incentives in Best-of-N Contests," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 53(3), pages 563-590, November.
    7. Ashby, Nathan J. & Ramos, Miguel A., 2023. "Productivity within groups: An analysis of shirking in high school cross country competitions," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 106(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    team production; contest; intergroup competition; sequential contribution; free-riding; swimming;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C70 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - General
    • D20 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - General
    • D70 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - General
    • H40 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - General

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