This paper compares relative performance evaluation via tournaments to absolute performance evaluation via piece rates when agents are heterogeneous ex post, to make the point that agent heterogeneity compromises the insurance function of tournaments. In particular, we show that the more...

This paper compares relative performance evaluation via tournaments to absolute performance evaluation via piece rates when agents are heterogeneous ex post, to make the point that agent heterogeneity compromises the insurance function of tournaments. In particular, we show that the more...

This paper proposes an alternative to standard cardinal tournaments. The analysis contrasts "hybrid" cardinal tournaments to standard cardinal tournaments and piece rates. It shows that providing for partial insurance against common uncertainty via a hybrid tournament (in which the weights on...

I investigate an innovative interaction before a market competition in a mixed duopoly, where a state-owned firm and a private firm compete with each other. I find that although it reduces the effort level of the state-owned firm, an agency problem can improve the expected social welfare in some...

We study the impacts of bankruptcy risk on markets for tradable environmental and natural resource permits. We show that bankruptcy risk in a competitive market for tradable permits causes an inefficient distribution of these permits among firms. Moreover, the equilibrium distribution of permits...

We study the impacts of bankruptcy risk on markets for tradable environmental and natural resource permits. We show that bankruptcy risk in a competitive market for tradable permits causes an inefficient distribution of these permits among firms. Moreover, the equilibrium distribution of permits...

I investigate an innovative interaction before a market competition in a mixed duopoly, where a state-owned firm and a private firm compete with each other. I find that although it reduces the effort level of the state-owned firm, an agency problem can improve the expected social welfare in some...

Under reasonable conditions, noncompliance with an emissions tax has no effect on environmental outcomes or the efficient allocation of individual emissions control. Moreover, differences in individual tax violations are independent of firm-level differences. All of these desirable...

This note describes the effects on human capital formation of rank-order tournaments offering identical prizes to a given number of the ranked contestants. This compensation scheme is thought to resemble the selection processes in different areas of the public administration, particularly in...

We show that less monitoring can increase effort and alleviate the moral hazard problem in tournaments. We also find a unique optimal level of monitoring based on contestants' abilities. As the difference between their abilities gets larger, the contest designer should monitor less.