Investment Behaviour in a Two-Period Contest Model

Abstract

This paper presents a two-period model of talent investments in which two clubs compete for a contest prize. We show that multiple equilibria are possible, using a closed-loop approach with strictly convex costs: The large-market club invests in both periods more than the small-market club or the small-market club invests in both periods more than the large-market club. In the case of an open-loop approach with strictly convex costs, however, the large-market club always invests more. The open-loop and closed-loop equilibria coincide if costs are linear.