A person engaged in search may be uncertain whether the good or job he seeks is still available. Some people may therefore search when the job or good is unavailable; others may stop searching too early. A seller or employer who wants individuals to search should therefore periodically announce...

We consider a politician's choice of whether to be evaluated, either by subjecting himself to a detailed interview or by asking for the appointment of a special prosecutor. If politicians are risk-neutral, then in equilibrium all choose to be evaluated. If politicians are risk-averse, then...

Consider a government that adopts a program, sees a noisy signal about its success, and decides whether to continue the program. Suppose further that the success of a program is greater if people think it will be continued. This paper considers the optimal decision rule for continuing the...

Consider a government that adopts a program, sees a noisy signal about its success, and decides whether to continue the program. Suppose further that the success of a program is greater if people think it will be continued. This paper considers the optimal decision rule for continuing the...

Firms frequently use contests to compensate their employees: an employee's pay depends on the ranking of his output compared to that of others, rather than on the absolute level of his output. This paper analyzes the design of a contest which maximizes the contestants' expected aggregate output...

We consider an individual's choice whether to be evaluated. Separating signaling equilibria can arise when individuals are risk averse, even if the cost of evaluation is zero for all.