When Pressure Sinks Performance: Evidence from Diving Competitions

Eleni Garbi, Christos Genakos and Mario Pagliero

CEP Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Performance, LSE

Abstract: Tournaments are designed to enhance participants' effort and productivity. However, ranking near the top may increase psychological pressure and reduce performance. We empirically study the impact of interim rank on performance using data from international diving tournaments. We find that competitors systematically underperform when ranked closer to the top, despite higher incentives to perform well.

Keywords: Tournaments; incentives; choking under pressure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J24 L83 M52 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hrm
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (24)

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Related works:
Journal Article: When pressure sinks performance: Evidence from diving competitions (2015)
Working Paper: When pressure sinks performance: evidence from diving competitions (2015)
Working Paper: When pressure sinks performance: Evidence from diving competitions (2014)
Working Paper: When pressure sinks performance: Evidence from diving competitions (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp1345

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