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Bayesian Nash equilibrium existence in (almost continuous) contests

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  • Ori Haimanko

    (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev)

Abstract

We prove the existence of a behavioral-strategy Bayesian Nash equilibrium in contests where each contestant’s probability to win is continuous in efforts outside the zero-effort profile, monotone in his own effort, and greater that 1/2 if that contestant is the only one exerting positive effort. General type spaces, and in particular a continuum of information types, are allowed. As a corollary, the existence of a pure-strategy Bayesian Nash equilibrium is established in generalized Tullock contests, where the probability to win is strictly concave in one’s own effort for any non-zero effort profile of other players.

Suggested Citation

  • Ori Haimanko, 2021. "Bayesian Nash equilibrium existence in (almost continuous) contests," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 71(3), pages 1231-1258, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joecth:v:71:y:2021:i:3:d:10.1007_s00199-021-01358-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s00199-021-01358-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Ben Chen & José A. Rodrigues-Neto, 2023. "The interaction of emotions and cost-shifting rules in civil litigation," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 75(3), pages 841-885, April.
    2. Vladimir Petkov, 2023. "Prize formation and sharing in multi-stage contests," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 75(1), pages 259-289, January.
    3. Ori Haimanko, 2022. "Equilibrium existence in two-player contests without absolute continuity of information," Economic Theory Bulletin, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 10(1), pages 27-39, May.
    4. Prokopovych, Pavlo & Yannelis, Nicholas C., 2023. "On monotone pure-strategy Bayesian-Nash equilibria of a generalized contest," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 348-362.
    5. Pavlo Prokopovych & Nicholas C. Yannelis, 2022. "On nondegenerate equilibria of double auctions with several buyers and a price floor," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 73(2), pages 625-654, April.
    6. Ori Haimanko, 2021. "Bayesian Nash equilibrium existence in (almost continuous) contests," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 71(3), pages 1231-1258, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Contests; Tullock lottery; Bayesian Nash equilibrium; Equilibrium existence; Absolute continuity of information; Continuum of types;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design

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