Multi-Battle Contests: An Experimental Study

Shakun Mago and Roman Sheremeta

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: We examine behavior of subjects in simultaneous and sequential multi-battle contests, where each individual battle is modeled as an all-pay auction with complete information. In simultaneous best-of-three contests, subjects are predicted to make positive bids in all three battles, but we find that subjects often make positive bids in only two battles. In sequential contests, theory predicts sizable bids in the first battle and no bids in the subsequent battles. Contrary to this prediction, subjects significantly underbid in the first battle and overbid in subsequent battles. Consequently, instead of always ending in the second battle, contests often proceeds to the third battle. Finally, although the aggregate bid in simultaneous contests is similar to that in sequential contests, in both settings, subjects make higher aggregate bids than predicted. The observed behavior of subjects can be rationalized by a combination of multi-dimensional iterative reasoning and a non-monetary utility of winning.

Keywords: multi-battle contest; experiments; iterative reasoning; overdissipation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C72 C91 D72 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016-09-17
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp and nep-gth
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Multi‐battle Contests: An Experimental Study (2017)
Working Paper: Multi-Battle Contests: An Experimental Study (2016)
Working Paper: Multi-Battle Contests: An Experimental Study (2012)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pra:mprapa:74524

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