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Escaping the zero-sum game of positional races

Author

Listed:
  • Gilles Grolleau

    (BSB - Burgundy School of Business (BSB) - Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Dijon Bourgogne (ESC), LAMETA - Laboratoire Montpelliérain d'Économie Théorique et Appliquée - UM1 - Université Montpellier 1 - UPVM - Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - Montpellier SupAgro - Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques - UM - Université de Montpellier - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - Montpellier SupAgro - Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier)

  • Igor Galochkin
  • Angela Sutan

    (LAMETA - Laboratoire Montpelliérain d'Économie Théorique et Appliquée - UM1 - Université Montpellier 1 - UPVM - Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - Montpellier SupAgro - Centre international d'études supérieures en sciences agronomiques - UM - Université de Montpellier - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - Montpellier SupAgro - Institut national d’études supérieures agronomiques de Montpellier, LESSAC - Laboratoire d'Expérimentation en Sciences Sociales et Analyse des Comportements - BSB - Burgundy School of Business (BSB) - Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Dijon Bourgogne (ESC))

Abstract

Positional races are frequently described as zero-sum games implying that winners are exactly offset by losers. From the social welfare viewpoint, these races are wasteful. We develop several mechanisms allowing individuals to cope with the zero sum nature of rank games and possibly increase their happiness. We provide evidence to support the relevance of these mechanisms in real world settings. Several policy implications are drawn.

Suggested Citation

  • Gilles Grolleau & Igor Galochkin & Angela Sutan, 2012. "Escaping the zero-sum game of positional races," Post-Print hal-01994857, HAL.
  • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01994857
    DOI: 10.1111/kykl.12002
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    Cited by:

    1. Grolleau Gilles & Marciano Alain & Mzoughi Naoufel, 2018. "How Status Seeking may Prevent Coasean Bargaining," Review of Law & Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 14(2), pages 1-20, July.
    2. Katherine Farrow & Gilles Grolleau & Lisette Ibanez, 2022. "Does misery love company? An experimental investigation [How much do we care about absolute versus relative income and consumption?]," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 74(2), pages 523-540.
    3. Jérémy Celse & Bruno S. Frey & Gilles Grolleau & Naoufel Mzoughi, 2022. "The unexpected power of negative awards," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 75(3), pages 385-393, August.
    4. S. Wouters & N. Exel & M. Donk & K. Rohde & W. Brouwer, 2015. "Do people desire to be healthier than other people? A short note on positional concerns for health," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 16(1), pages 47-54, January.

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