Heterogeneity in Rent-Seeking Contests with Multiple Stages: Theory and Experimental Evidence
46 Pages Posted: 1 Nov 2013
Date Written: October 31, 2013
Abstract
This paper investigates how heterogeneity in contestants’ investment costs affects the competition intensity in a dynamic elimination contest. Theory predicts that the absolute level of investment costs has no effect on the competition intensity in homogeneous interactions. Relative cost differences in heterogeneous interactions, however, reduce equilibrium expenditures. Evidence from lab experiments for treatments with homogeneous participants is qualitatively in line with the theoretical prediction. The effect of cost differences on expenditures is positive rather than negative, however, in all heterogeneous treatments.
Keywords: multi-stage contest, heterogeneity, experiment, joy of winning
JEL Classification: C720, D720
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation