How much effort to put into a study assignment. A basic model

Document from the year 2012 in the subject Business economics - Miscellaneous, grade: 1.0, Maastricht University (School of Business and Economics), course: Economic Analysis of Social Behavior, language: English, abstract: In setting up an economic model one faces many dificulties: From a multitude of equilibria to non existing optimal solutions, the model parameters have to be assumed correctly to not only mirror behavior but lead to a solvable model. This paper outlines a basic model framework at the example an optimal effort level in writing papers for a masters course. Every semester millions of students worldwide have to choose their courses, read compulsory literature, intensify their knowledge in their chosen field of studies and pass exams to advance further in their academic life. Students prepare themselves for their future jobs, improving skills in different areas, most of which will be applicable in specific business environments. They study to have a better perspective in the nowadays tight job market, to increase their expected future income, as they signal their quality as an employee by their degrees and grades. Where the potential future job however offers the paid wage as an incentive, for every hour or month worked,, your studies lack these direct monetary incentives. Being the better student will not yield a higher pay directly, you will not get money for every passed exam or every top grade you get in your studies.