Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/35213 
Year of Publication: 
2008
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 3281
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
We provide an explanation for peer pressure in teams based on inequity aversion. Analyzing a two-period model with two agents, we find that the effect of inequity aversion strongly depends on the information structure. When contributions are unobservable, agents act as if they were purely selfish. However, when contributions are made transparent at an interim stage, agents exert higher efforts in the first period and adjust their efforts according to the interim information in the second period. This form of peer pressure reduces free-riding and thus, more efficient outcomes are attained. The results are confirmed in a real effort experiment.
Subjects: 
Team
transparency
peer pressure
free-riding
incentives
inequity aversion
real effort
experiment
JEL: 
D23
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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