%0 PDF %T Contests as a Tool for Development: Evidence from Peru. %A Davis, Mikal. %8 2017-04-24 %R http://localhost/files/z890s541p %X Abstract: To investigate the effectiveness of contests in a development setting, I use a case study from Peru where contests are implemented by giving households numeric scores based on how well they have adopted improved agricultural, sanitation and agribusiness technologies. This paper analyzes the incentive effects of these contests by testing three hypotheses generated by theory: (1) Increasing the number of contestants will decrease average performance; (2) Performance is increasing in the prize spread; (3) High ability contestants will adopt low-risk strategies while low ability contestants will adopt high risk strategies. I find evidence consistent with theory for hypotheses (2) and (3), but the results for hypothesis (1) are ambiguous in regard to theoretical predictions. Together, the results suggest that contests influence behavior in predictable ways and therefore have the potential to be an additional policy option for development organizations.; Thesis (M.S.)--Tufts University, 2013.; Submitted to the Dept. of Economics.; Advisors: Kelsey Jack, and Maragaret Mcconnell.; Keywords: Economics, Agriculture economics, and Social research. %[ 2022-10-12 %9 Text %~ Tufts Digital Library %W Institution