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Run for fun: intrinsic motivation and physical performance

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  • Antonio FILIPPIN

    ()

  • Jan C. VAN OURS

    ()

Abstract

We use data from the 24-hours Belluno run which has the unique characteristic that participants are affiliated with teams and run for an hour. This allows us not only to study the individual relationship between age and performance but also to study group dynamics in terms of accessions to and separations from teams in a manner that closely resembles workers and firms when individual productivity would have been perfectly observable. From our analysis we conclude that individual performance goes down with age, although the speed-age gradient is rather flat. Group performance goes down with age as well, but interestingly a counterbalancing force emerges, namely team dynamics that are driven by performance of runners who enter and leave.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio FILIPPIN & Jan C. VAN OURS, 2012. "Run for fun: intrinsic motivation and physical performance," Departmental Working Papers 2012-03, Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods at Università degli Studi di Milano.
    • Handle: RePEc:mil:wpdepa:2012-03
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    File URL: http://wp.demm.unimi.it/files/wp/2012/DEMM-2012_003wp.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Age; performance; attrition;

    JEL classification:

    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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