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Task divisions in teams with complementary tasks

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  • Gregor, Martin

Abstract

A team leader and a team follower non-cooperatively produce a team-specific public good out of two complementary tasks. Both team members are identically productive and can contribute to both tasks. By moving first, the team leader effectively determines the division of the tasks in the team. We show that the existence of multiple but finitely many types of task divisions is associated with a non-convex leader's budget constraint. Non-convexity generates discontinuities and non-monotonicities in the equilibrium provision of the good and also in the follower's utility if incomes are redistributed within the team. Non-monotonicity of the follower's utility motivates the follower to give a cash transfer to the leader. Having received the cash transfer, the leader adopts a task division that compensates the contributions of the follower. Hence, we observe a non-cooperative gift exchange with a monetary gift to the leader and a subsequent non-monetary reward to the follower through a lighter task allocation. These gift exchanges disappear in the presence of infinitely many types of task divisions generated by a continuum of complementary tasks.

Suggested Citation

  • Gregor, Martin, 2015. "Task divisions in teams with complementary tasks," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 102-120.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:117:y:2015:i:c:p:102-120
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2015.06.017
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    1. Hattori, Keisuke & Yamada, Mai, 2023. "Closing the Psychological Distance: The Effect of Social Interactions on Team Performance," MPRA Paper 117042, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gift exchange; Complementarity; Public good; Cash transfer; Sequential game;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights
    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods

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