Arbeitspapier

Inducing variety: A theory of innovation contests

This paper analyzes the design of innovation contests when the quality of an innovation depends on the research approach, but the best approach is unknown. Inducing a variety of research approaches generates an option value. We show that suitable contests can induce such variety. The buyer-optimal contest is a bonus tournament, where suppliers can choose only between a low bid and a high bid. This contest implements the socially optimal variety for a suitable parameter range. Finally, we compare the optimal contest to scoring auctions and fixed-prize tournaments.

Sprache
Englisch

Erschienen in
Series: Working Paper ; No. 200

Klassifikation
Wirtschaft
Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation; Networks
Firm Organization and Market Structure
Organization of Production
Thema
contests
tournaments
auctions
diversity
innovation
procurement

Ereignis
Geistige Schöpfung
(wer)
Letina, Igor
Schmutzler, Armin
Ereignis
Veröffentlichung
(wer)
University of Zurich, Department of Economics
(wo)
Zurich
(wann)
2019

DOI
doi:10.5167/uzh-111830
Handle
Letzte Aktualisierung
12.07.2024, 13:20 MESZ

Objekttyp

  • Arbeitspapier

Beteiligte

  • Letina, Igor
  • Schmutzler, Armin
  • University of Zurich, Department of Economics

Entstanden

  • 2019

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