Learning and self-confidence in contests

Abstract: "The paper studies a repeated contest when contestants are uncertain about their true abilities. A favourable belief about one's own ability (confidence) stimulates effort and increases the likelihood of success. Success, in turn, reinforces favourable beliefs. We consider a specific example in which this reinforcement mechanism implies that, with positive probability, players fail to learn their true abilities, and one player may eventually win the contest forever. As a consequence, persistent inequality arises, and the worse player may eventually prevail. Furthermore, confidence is self-serving in that it increases a player's utility and the likelihood to be the long-run winner." (author's abstract)

Object Details

• Alternative title: Lernen und Selbstvertrauen in Wettkämpfen
• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource, 34 S.
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Veröffentlichungsversion

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Discussion Papers / Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung, Forschungsschwerpunkt Märkte und Politik, Abteilung Marktprozesse und Steuerung ; Bd. 2003-10

Classification and Topics

• Keyword: Wettbewerb ; Lernkurve ; Persönlichkeitspsychologie ; Spieltheorie

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Berlin
• (when): 2003
• Creator: Krähmer, Daniel
• Contributor: Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung gGmbH

Further information

• URN: urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-111860
• Rights: Open Access unbekannt; Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:31 AM CEST