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Splash with a teammate: Peer effects in high-stakes tournaments

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  • Jiang, Lingqing

Abstract

This paper investigates peer effects among high-skilled individuals in competitive environments with high-stakes incentives. I use data from the Swimming World Championships and study whether having a teammate in the competing group affects individual performance. The identification challenge lies in that the competing group’s composition is endogenous to individual performance. I apply a regression discontinuity design by comparing finalists’ performance when their teammate barely qualified or not qualified for the same finals. Female athletes accompanied by a teammate finished with less time and performed 0.8 to 1.18 ranks better in the finals. Male athletes’ performance is unaffected. The potential mechanisms of enhanced intra-team competition and mitigated psychosocial pressure are discussed and are in line with literature on gender differences.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiang, Lingqing, 2020. "Splash with a teammate: Peer effects in high-stakes tournaments," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 165-188.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:171:y:2020:i:c:p:165-188
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2020.01.013
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    2. 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.
    3. Jiang, Lingqing & Zhu, Zhen, 2021. "Peer groups, social support, and well-being: evidence from a large online maternity community," ISER Working Paper Series 2021-01, Institute for Social and Economic Research.
    4. Lasse Brune & Eric Chyn & Jason Kerwin, 2022. "Peers and Motivation at Work: Evidence from a Firm Experiment in Malawi," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 57(4), pages 1147-1177.
    5. Matteo Pazzona, 2022. "Peer interactions and performance in a high‐skilled labour market," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 124(4), pages 1087-1116, October.
    6. Jiang, Lingqing & Zhu, Zhen, 2022. "Information exchange and multiple peer groups: A natural experiment in an online community," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 543-562.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Peer effects; Tournaments; Regression discontinuity; Gender differences;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • Z29 - Other Special Topics - - Sports Economics - - - Other

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