Heterogeneous Peer Effects by Gender, Tasks, and Monetary Incentives : Evidence from Speed Skating

This study investigates the heterogeneity of peer effects using data on speed skating. Specifically, I examine whether and how skaters' times are affected by those of their competitors who start simultaneously under various race distances and monetary prizes. On average, while I find no evidence for peer effects among men, I find that a 10% improvement in peer's time makes one's time faster by 0.93-1.06% in sprint races among women (500 and 1,000 meters). In 1,000-meter races for women, however, peer effects work only in events with prize money. Furthermore, interestingly, when the incentives get more competitive, peer effects increase not in 1,000-meter races but 500-meter races. In tasks where the cost of effort to go all out is high, like 1,000-meter races, the presence of monetary incentives is important, but some skaters exposed to more competitive incentives might give up. The findings demonstrate that peer effects vary across gender, task characteristics, and monetary incentives even within a single occupation