Gaming Over: Quasi-Experimental Evidence on the Effect of Competition on Gaming

Martin Bækgaard; Carlos X. Lastra-Anadón; Søren Serritzlew; Kim Mannemar Sønderskov

doi:10.1080/15309576.2024.2302389

Gaming Over: Quasi-Experimental Evidence on the Effect of Competition on Gaming

Martin Bækgaard, Carlos X. Lastra-Anadón, Søren Serritzlew, Kim Mannemar Sønderskov

Department of Political Science

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Does competition increase gaming? Gaming is a well-known problem in the public sector, and a strong logic suggests that increased competition should lead to more gaming. However, issues with reverse causality challenge research aiming to obtain causal estimates of the impact of competition. To deal with this problem, we exploit an exogenously induced change in competition in Danish schools. Following a municipal consolidation reform, some public schools were exposed overnight to increased competition. Using difference-in-differences models to estimate the effect of competition on gaming, we find no evidence of teacher-assessed grade inflation post-reform. Although gaming is widespread, particularly in public schools, increased competition is not bound to exacerbate the problem.

Original language	English
Journal	Public Performance and Management Review
Volume	47
Issue	1
Pages (from-to)	89-113
Number of pages	25
ISSN	1530-9576
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/15309576.2024.2302389
Publication status	Published - Feb 2024

Keywords

Competition
gaming
public schools

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10.1080/15309576.2024.2302389

Cite this

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abstract = "Does competition increase gaming? Gaming is a well-known problem in the public sector, and a strong logic suggests that increased competition should lead to more gaming. However, issues with reverse causality challenge research aiming to obtain causal estimates of the impact of competition. To deal with this problem, we exploit an exogenously induced change in competition in Danish schools. Following a municipal consolidation reform, some public schools were exposed overnight to increased competition. Using difference-in-differences models to estimate the effect of competition on gaming, we find no evidence of teacher-assessed grade inflation post-reform. Although gaming is widespread, particularly in public schools, increased competition is not bound to exacerbate the problem.",

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Gaming Over: Quasi-Experimental Evidence on the Effect of Competition on Gaming. / Bækgaard, Martin; Lastra-Anadón, Carlos X.; Serritzlew, Søren et al.
In: Public Performance and Management Review, Vol. 47, No. 1, 02.2024, p. 89-113.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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Gaming Over: Quasi-Experimental Evidence on the Effect of Competition on Gaming

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Keywords

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