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Rent dissipation in large population Tullock contests

Author

Listed:
  • Ratul Lahkar

    (Ashoka University)

  • Rezina Sultana

    (Indian Institute of Management Udaipur)

Abstract

Tullock contests model rent seeking behavior where agents exert unproductive effort to probabilistically win a fixed prize. Rent dissipation measures the social loss involved in effort exertion in such contests. Tullock contests are characterized by an impact function, which measures how effort impacts success, and a cost of effort function. If these functions are asymmetric and non-linear, then the contest cannot be solved in closed form. Hence, we approximate such contests with a large population contest, for which Nash equilibria and rent dissipation can be explicitly calculated. Rent dissipation is then the ratio of the effort elasticity of impact to the effort elasticity of cost. Greater elasticity of impact incentivizes more exertion of unproductive effort generating higher social loss.

Suggested Citation

  • Ratul Lahkar & Rezina Sultana, 2023. "Rent dissipation in large population Tullock contests," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 197(1), pages 253-282, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:pubcho:v:197:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s11127-023-01103-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s11127-023-01103-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Tullock contests; Rent dissipation; Large population games;
    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

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