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Teamwork as a Self-Disciplining Device

Author

Listed:
  • Matthias Fahn
  • Hendrik Hakenes

Abstract

We show that team formation can serve as an implicit commitment device to overcome problems of self-control. If individuals have present-biased preferences, effort that is costly today but rewarded at some later point in time is too low from the perspective of an individual's long-run self. If agents interact repeatedly and can monitor each other, a relational contract involving teamwork can help to improve performance. The mutual promise to work harder is credible because the team breaks up after an agent has not kept this promise, which leads to individual underproduction in the future, reducing future utility.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthias Fahn & Hendrik Hakenes, 2019. "Teamwork as a Self-Disciplining Device," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 11(4), pages 1-32, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejmic:v:11:y:2019:i:4:p:1-32
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/mic.20160217
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Etienne Farvaque, 2024. "For those about to rock… is stability a determinant of rock bands success?," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 48(1), pages 145-166, March.
    2. Fahn, Matthias & Seibel, Regina, 2022. "Present bias in the labor market – when it pays to be naive," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 144-167.
    3. Claudia Cerrone, 2021. "Doing It When Others Do: A Strategic Model Of Procrastination," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 59(1), pages 315-328, January.
    4. Joshua S. Gans & Peter Landry, 2019. "Self-recognition in teams," International Journal of Game Theory, Springer;Game Theory Society, vol. 48(4), pages 1169-1201, December.
    5. Chakraborty, Anujit & Fenig, Guidon, 2025. "From me to we: Beating procrastination in teams," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    6. Fahn, Matthias, 2019. "Reciprocity in Dynamic Employment Relationships," Rationality and Competition Discussion Paper Series 198, CRC TRR 190 Rationality and Competition.
    7. KAYABA, Yutaka & 萱場, 豊, 2016. "How do People Procrastinate to Meet a Deadline?," Discussion paper series HIAS-E-33, Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study, Hitotsubashi University.
    8. Yixuan Shi, 2022. "Dynamic Volunteer's Dilemma with Procrastinators," Working Papers tax-mpg-rps-2022-17, Max Planck Institute for Tax Law and Public Finance.
    9. Lang, Matthias & Schudy, Simeon, 2023. "(Dis)honesty and the value of transparency for campaign promises," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    10. Manuel A. Utset, 2023. "Time-Inconsistent Bargaining and Cross-Commitments," Games, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-21, April.
    11. Chen, Alice J. & Munnich, Elizabeth L. & Parente, Stephen T. & Richards, Michael R., 2023. "Provider turf wars and Medicare payment rules," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    12. Weinschenk, Philipp, 2021. "On the benefits of time-inconsistent preferences," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 185-195.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory
    • D71 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Social Choice; Clubs; Committees; Associations
    • D86 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Economics of Contract Law
    • M54 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Labor Management

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