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Review of Economic Studies Vol. 83 No. 3 2016

Optimal Contracts for Experimentation

Marina Halac1,2; Navin Kartik2; Qingmin Liu2

1 University of Warwick · 2 Columbia University

open access

Abstract

This paper studies a model of long-term contracting for experimentation. We consider a principal–agent relationship with adverse selection on the agent’s ability, dynamic moral hazard, and private learning about project quality. We find that each of these elements plays an essential role in structuring dynamic incentives, and it is only their interaction that generally precludes efficiency. Our model permits an explicit characterization of optimal contracts.

DOI
10.1093/restud/rdw013
Volume
83
Issue
3
Pages
1040-1091
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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