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Designing Dynamic Research Tournaments

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  • Letina, Igor
  • Benkert, Jean-Michel

Abstract

This paper considers the optimal design of dynamic research tournaments when the buyer can set time-dependent prizes. We derive the buyer-optimal tournament and show that it entails an increasing prize schedule. Remarkably, this allows the buyer to implement a global stopping rule. In particular, the optimal tournament attains the first-best. More generally, we show that global stopping rules can be implemented robustly and compare them to individual stopping rules which have been analyzed in the existing literature. We conclude by discussing policy implications of our findings and highlight that global stopping rules combine the best aspects of innovation races and fixed prize tournaments.

Suggested Citation

  • Letina, Igor & Benkert, Jean-Michel, 2016. "Designing Dynamic Research Tournaments," VfS Annual Conference 2016 (Augsburg): Demographic Change 145738, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:vfsc16:145738
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Dmitry Ryvkin, 2022. "To Fight or to Give Up? Dynamic Contests with a Deadline," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(11), pages 8144-8165, November.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • D02 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Institutions: Design, Formation, Operations, and Impact
    • L19 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Other

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