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Fairness in round-robin tournaments with four players and endogenous sequences

Author

Listed:
  • Dietz, Fabian
  • Sahm, Marco

Abstract

We examine the effects of endogenous sequences on the fairness in round-robin tournaments with four players, multiple prizes, and general contest technologies. A tournament is called horizontally ex-ante fair if symmetric contestants have the same expected payoffs (odds) before the tournament starts. It is called perfectly fair if the winning probabilities in each match depend only on the players' characteristics but not on the position of the match in the course of the tournament. We show that there is no sequence which implies perfect fairness. By contrast, some endogenous sequences imply horizontal ex-ante fairness irrespective of the prize structure. In winner-take-all tournaments, additional endogenous sequences are horizontally ex-ante fair. Our findings question the prevailing use of exogenous sequences in four-player roundrobin tournaments in commercial sports despite horizontally ex-ante fair alternatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Dietz, Fabian & Sahm, Marco, 2024. "Fairness in round-robin tournaments with four players and endogenous sequences," BERG Working Paper Series 193, Bamberg University, Bamberg Economic Research Group.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:bamber:300669
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Dmitry Ryvkin, 2013. "Heterogeneity of Players and Aggregate Effort in Contests," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(4), pages 728-743, December.
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    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
    • Z20 - Other Special Topics - - Sports Economics - - - General

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