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Sorting in Iterated Incumbency Contests

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  • Nöldeke, Georg
  • Häfner, Samuel

Abstract

This paper analyzes incumbency contests in a large population setting. Incumbents repeatedly face different challengers, holding on to their positions until defeated in a contest. Defeated incumbents turn into challengers until they win a contest against an incumbent, thereby regaining an incumbency position. Individuals are heterogeneous as regards their payoffs from being incumbent. We consider steady-state equilibria and study how and to which extent individuals sort into the incumbency positions depending on their type. In particular, we identify sufficient conditions for positive sorting, meaning that types with higher incumbency payoffs are overrepresented among the incumbents, and show that negative rather than positive sorting may also arise in equilibrium when these conditions are violated. Further results show how incumbency rents, surplus, and sorting are affected by the frequency at which incumbency is contested.

Suggested Citation

  • Nöldeke, Georg & Häfner, Samuel, 2018. "Sorting in Iterated Incumbency Contests," VfS Annual Conference 2018 (Freiburg, Breisgau): Digital Economy 181512, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:vfsc18:181512
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Fabian Dietz & Stephan Eitel, 2025. "Endogenous Incumbency in Repeated Contests," Working Papers 243, Bavarian Graduate Program in Economics (BGPE).

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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
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions

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