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Reputation with Opportunities for Coasting

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  • Bar-Isaac, Heski
  • Deb, Joyee

Abstract

Reputation concerns can discipline agents and generate good outcomes. But what if outcomes are not always observed? Infrequent observation can strengthen reputation incentives and encourage effort. By exerting effort when outcomes are more likely observed, the agent can improve her reputation, and when the audience is inattentive in the future, she can †coast†on this reputation without additional effort. Such opportunities to coast in the future can in fact lead to greater overall effort than constant observation. We characterize the optimal observability structure to maximize efficient effort. This has implications for the design of review systems or performance feedback systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Bar-Isaac, Heski & Deb, Joyee, 2016. "Reputation with Opportunities for Coasting," CEPR Discussion Papers 11513, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:11513
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    Cited by:

    1. Hakenes, Hendrik & Katolnik, Svetlana, 2017. "On the incentive effects of job rotation," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 424-441.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Reputation; Coasting; Observability;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C73 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Stochastic and Dynamic Games; Evolutionary Games
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • L14 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation

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