Document Type
Paper
Publication Date
Spring 4-20-2010
Abstract
In this paper I test the predictions of tournament theory using panel data from international fencing competitions. The theory predicts that for a given level of prize spread, agents’ effort incentives are reduced due to the asymmetry. Using two measures of prize spread, I estimate the impact of these measures on performance for five separate skill-sorted cohorts using OLS and the Heckman selection model. I find evidence of ordinal disincentive effects for fencers of a lower skill level, which is consistent with the predictions of the theory.
Recommended Citation
Salter, Alexander W., "En Garde! Tournament Asymmetry and Disincentive Effects in International Fencing Competitions" (2010). Economics Student Scholarship.
http://scholar.oxy.edu/econ_student/1
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.