Does This Kick Do the Trick? How Stake Size Shapes Strategic Behavior
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SeriesResearch Master Defense
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Speaker
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LocationRoeterseilandcampus RecE 4.03
Amsterdam -
Date and time
July 15, 2026
10:00 - 12:00
While the importance of incentives in decision-making is widely recognized, the existing literature provides limited empirical evidence on the impact of stake size on strategic behavior. Higher stakes may encourage more careful reflection. However, they may also create pressure and narrow attention, leading people to excessively focus on their own rewards and neglect how opponents may respond. Inspired by real-world data from penalty kicks suggesting that higher stakes and pressure may alter the way in which players randomize, we design a laboratory experiment to investigate the causal effects of stakes on the strategic choices and sophistication of individuals.