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Credit Attribution and Collaborative Work

Author

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  • Saltuk Özerturk

    (Southern Methodist University)

  • Huseyin Yildirim

    (Duke University)

Abstract

We examine a dynamic model of teamwork in which the public attributes credit for success based on its perception of individual efforts. The collaborative behavior varies starkly depending on the shape of marginal effort cost, or project's "difficulty." In the unique (interior) equilibrium, higher ability collaborators work less and thus receive lower credit and payoff for "easy" projects, while the reverse holds for "difficult" projects. Despite free-riding, the team equilibrium may involve over-investment. Social efficiency requires over-rewarding collaborative work and under-rewarding solo work. The incentives to team up and the impact of effort monitoring on credit attribution are also investigated.

Suggested Citation

  • Saltuk Özerturk & Huseyin Yildirim, 2019. "Credit Attribution and Collaborative Work," Departmental Working Papers 1907, Southern Methodist University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:smu:ecowpa:1907
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Paula Onuchic & Debraj Ray, 2023. "Signaling and Discrimination in Collaborative Projects," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 113(1), pages 210-252, January.
    2. Yildirim, Huseyin, 2025. "The economics of career concerns in teamwork," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    3. Huseyin Yildirim, 2023. "Who fares better in teamwork?," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 54(2), pages 299-324, June.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • D86 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Economics of Contract Law
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • L23 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Organization of Production

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