Sequential Teamwork in Competitive Environments: Theory and Evidence from Swimming Data

*Michael Neugart
School of Economics and Management, Free University of Bozen

Matteo Richiardi
Department of Economics, University of Turin

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     Last modified: November 25, 2010
     Presentation date: 03/13/2011 10:15 AM in NH 1130, Session B
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Abstract
We show that team members contributing earlier when team production is sequential have an incentive to free-ride more even when there is competition between teams. These predictions are tested on more than 300.000 observations on swimmers' performance at competitions from all over the world by comparing individual and relay swimming times. We find that free-riding does not vanish under competition and that earlier swimmers' performance in relays is relatively weaker.