This article analyzes the efficiency of the rank-order contract for a
finite number of risk-neutral agents under both moral hazard and adver
se selection. The first-best outcome is shown to be supported by a set
of rank-order contracts which penalize a small fraction of agents but
do so heavily. The article also shows how these rank-order contracts
compare with these giving a large prize to few agents. Finally, the ar
ticle provides an informal argument for why firms do not follow a pena
lty-giving rank-order contract in their promotion policies as often as
the theory predicts.