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Dynamic Multi‐Activity Contests

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  • Maria Arbatskaya
  • Hugo M. Mialon

Abstract

We develop a model of dynamic multi‐activity contests. Players simultaneously choose efforts in long‐run activities, observe each other's efforts in these activities, and then simultaneously choose efforts in short‐run activities. A player's long‐run and short‐run efforts complement each other in determining the player's probability of winning. We compare the outcomes of this two‐stage model to those of the corresponding model in which players choose efforts in all activities simultaneously. Interestingly, effort expenditures are always lower in the sequential multi‐activity contest than in the simultaneous multi‐activity contest. The implications of this result for the organization of military, litigation, innovation, academic, and sporting contests are highlighted.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Arbatskaya & Hugo M. Mialon, 2012. "Dynamic Multi‐Activity Contests," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 114(2), pages 520-538, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:scandj:v:114:y:2012:i:2:p:520-538
    DOI: j.1467-9442.2012.01695.x
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    Cited by:

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    2. Amegashie, J. Atsu, 2019. "Quantity-cum-quality contests," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 289-297.
    3. Jonathan Lamb & Justin Grana & Nicholas O’Donoughue, 2022. "The Benefits of Fractionation in Competitive Resource Allocation," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 59(2), pages 831-852, February.
    4. Czerny, Achim I. & Fosgerau, Mogens & Jost, Peter-J. & van Ommeren, Jos N., 2019. "Why pay for jobs (and not for tasks)?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 419-433.
    5. João Ricardo Faria & Franklin G. Mixon, Jr. & Steven B. Caudill & Samantha J. Wineke, 2014. "Two-Dimensional Effort in Patent-Race Games and Rent-Seeking Contests: The Case of Telephony," Games, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-11, May.
    6. Aner Sela, 2022. "Ineffective Prizes In Multi-Dimensional Contests," Working Papers 2205, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Department of Economics.
    7. Migheli, Matteo, 2019. "Competing for promotion: Are “THE BEST” always the best?," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(2), pages 149-161.
    8. Schaller, Zachary & Skaperdas, Stergios, 2020. "Bargaining and conflict with up-front investments: How power asymmetries matter," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 212-225.
    9. Klein, Arnd Heinrich & Schmutzler, Armin, 2017. "Optimal effort incentives in dynamic tournaments," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 199-224.
    10. Dan Kovencok & Michael J. Mauboussin & Brian Roberson, 2010. "Asymmetric Conflicts with Endogenous Dimensionality," Korean Economic Review, Korean Economic Association, vol. 26, pages 287-305.
    11. Maria Arbatskaya & Hideo Konishi, 2021. "Dynamic Team Contests with Complementary Efforts," Boston College Working Papers in Economics 1033, Boston College Department of Economics.
    12. Yuanhao Zhang, 2023. "Contest in Multitasking: An Evidence from Chinese County Officials' Promotion Assessment," Papers 2302.08691, arXiv.org.
    13. Luo, Zijun & Xie, Xin, 2018. "A Model Of rivalries with endogenous prize and strength," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 215-223.
    14. Lu, Jingfeng & Lu, David, 2020. "Task arrangement in team competitions," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    15. Osório, António (António Miguel), 2018. "Conflict and Competition over Multi-Issues," Working Papers 2072/306550, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Department of Economics.

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