The Team Allocator Game: Allocation Power in Public Goods Games

We analyze linear, weakest-link and best-shot public goods games in which a distinguished team member, the allocator, has property rights over benefits from good can distribute them among members. These allocator are intended to capture natural asymmetries hierarchical teams facing social dilemmas, such as those that exist work teams. Our results show introduction of leads pronounced cooperation both linear public-good games, while it no effect good. The uses her allocation power way motivates people contribute. Re-allocating payoffs allows reward cooperating members sanction non-cooperating at efficiency losses explicit sanctioning costs. As result, profits higher game but not case, where lack coordination welfare decrease for remaining