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Contribution Details

Type Journal Article
Scope Discipline-based scholarship
Title Transitional dynamics in a Tullock contest with a general cost function
Organization Unit
Authors
  • Martin Grossmann
  • Markus Lang
  • Helmut Max Dietl
Item Subtype Original Work
Refereed Yes
Status Published in final form
Language
  • English
Journal Title B.E.Journal of Theoretical Economics
Publisher De Gruyter
Geographical Reach international
ISSN 1555-0478
Volume 11
Number 1
Page Range 17
Date 2011
Abstract Text This paper constructs and analyzes open-loop equilibria in an infinitely repeated Tullock contest in which two contestants contribute efforts to accumulate individual asset stocks over time. To investigate the transitional dynamics of the contest in the case of a general cost function, we linearize the model around the steady state. Our analysis shows that optimal asset stocks and their speed of convergence to the steady state crucially depend on the elasticity of marginal effort costs, the discount factor and the depreciation rate. In the case of a cost function with a constant elasticity of marginal costs, a lower discount factor, a higher depreciation rate and a lower elasticity imply a higher speed of convergence to the steady state. We further analyze the effects of second prizes in the contest. A higher prize spread increases individual and aggregate asset stocks, but does not alter the balance of the contest in the long run. During the transition, a higher prize spread increases asset stocks, produces a more balanced contest in each period and increases the speed of convergence to the steady state.
Digital Object Identifier 10.2202/1935-1704.1795
Other Identification Number merlin-id:6903
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