Foundations for contest success functions (Q2268135)

This paper examines two approaches to contest success functions. In the first, it analyzes the implications of contestants' incomplete information concerning the ``type'' of the contest administrator. While in the case of two contestants this approach can rationalize prominent contest success functions, it shows that it runs into difficulties when there are more agents. The second approach interprets contest success functions as sharing rules and establishes a connection to bargaining and claim problems which is independent of the number of contestants. Both approaches provide foundations for popular contest success functions and guidelines for the definition of new ones.