Download This PaperWhen Pressure Sinks Performance: Evidence from Diving Competitions
10 Pages Posted: 19 Jan 2016
Date Written: July 1, 2012
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
JEL Classification: J24, L83, M52, Z13
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Genakos, Christos and Pagliero, Mario and Garbi, Eleni, When Pressure Sinks Performance: Evidence from Diving Competitions (July 1, 2012). Economics Letters, Vol. 120, No. 4, 2012, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2717931 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2717931
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