nep-spo New Economics Papers
on Sports and Economics
Issue of 2024‒11‒11
five papers chosen by
Humberto Barreto, DePauw University


  1. The Barcelona Football Club: A Different Referee Bias Case? By Fausto Hernández-Trillo; Aaron Zaragoza
  2. Sports club loyalty: General and age-related analysis. An example from recreational riders in riding school By Céline Vial; Camille Eslan; Sandrine Costa
  3. Uncovering the Viral Nature of Toxicity in Competitive Online Video Games By Jacob Morrier; Amine Mahmassani; R. Michael Alvarez
  4. Overcoming Discrimination: Harassment and Discrimination Dynamics By Yi Chen; Adam Dearing; Michael Waldman
  5. How Do Gamblers React to Wins? Evidence from Bank Transaction Data in Japan By Kozo UEDA; Fei Gao

  1. By: Fausto Hernández-Trillo (Department of Economics, CIDE); Aaron Zaragoza (Department of Economics, CIDE)
    Abstract: This article analyzes the relationship between bribes and competitive success in matches of the First Division of Spain, based on the Negreira Case scandal, which exposed payments from Barcelona FC to Enríquez-Negreira while he was vice president of the Spanish Technical Committee of Referees. Drawing on an extensive self-constructed dataset, covering more than two decades of seasons, and employing various statistical and econometric techniques, this study delves into the potential association between bribery and the likelihood of an organization achieving more victories. The results reveal a significant positive relationship between the payments made by Barcelona FC and its competitive success, even after controlling for quality.
    Keywords: Corruption, Barcelona, Football, LaLiga, Referee Bias, Negreira
    JEL: Z0 Z2 A1
    Date: 2024–10
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:emc:wpaper:dte642
  2. By: Céline Vial (UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement, IFCE - Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation [Saumur]); Camille Eslan (UniLaSalle, INTERACT - Innovation, Territoire, Agriculture et Agro-industrie, Connaissance et Technologie - UniLaSalle, UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement); Sandrine Costa (UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement)
    Abstract: Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of age on sporting club loyalty, focusing on horse riding in France. Theoretical Framework: Using a consumer behavior marketing approach, this study provides an understanding of the relationships and influence between the constructs of loyalty, satisfaction, switching barriers, affective commitment to the group of friends and community commitment. Method: A multigroup SEM was used to provide a global understanding. The Data collection was carried out through on online survey amongst 615 respondents in France. Results and Discussion: Whatever the age is, the results confirm the classical influence of satisfaction on loyalty and highlight the significant influence of riding teachers on customer loyalty to riding schools. The relationships between the other constructs differ by age with different factors influencing satisfaction and loyalty. Younger riders' loyalty relies more on teacher linkage, while older riders consider a more global environment, including switching barriers and commitments. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research are discussed, providing insights into how the results can be applied or influence practices in the field of sport management. These implications could encompass equestrian activities and sports businesses. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by showing the differences or correlations between segments of recreational riders according to their loyalty to their riding club. Thus, adapting marketing and management strategies according to the age of recreational riders is essential to improve loyalty according to its main drivers.
    Keywords: Attitudinal Loyalty, Equestrian Activities, Leisure, Student-Teacher's Linkage, Multigroup SEM
    Date: 2024–08–30
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04719569
  3. By: Jacob Morrier; Amine Mahmassani; R. Michael Alvarez
    Abstract: Toxicity is a widespread phenomenon in competitive online video games. In addition to its direct undesirable effects, there is a concern that toxicity can spread to others, amplifying the harm caused by a single player's misbehavior. In this study, we estimate whether and to what extent a player's toxic speech spreads, causing their teammates to behave similarly. To this end, we analyze proprietary data from the free-to-play first-person action game Call of Duty: Warzone. We formulate and implement an instrumental variable identification strategy that leverages the network of interactions among players across matches. Our analysis reveals that all else equal, all of a player's teammates engaging in toxic speech increases their probability of engaging in similar behavior by 26.1 to 30.3 times the average player's likelihood of engaging in toxic speech. These findings confirm the viral nature of toxicity, especially toxic speech, in competitive online video games.
    Date: 2024–10
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2410.00978
  4. By: Yi Chen; Adam Dearing; Michael Waldman
    Abstract: A common feature of historical episodes in which integration was successful, as well as episodes where integration was unsuccessful, is the aggravated harassment of the early pathbreakers who put themselves at risk by violating the previous segregated norm. Examples abound including Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby in the case of Major League Baseball, Autherine Lucy who was the first Black student at the University of Alabama, and Jane Chastain and Melissa Ludtke who were early female sports reporters. In this paper, we explore from a theoretical perspective the role of harassment of what we refer to as integration pathbreakers in the success and speed with which integration occurs. In our model of labor market discrimination, harassment occurs because the harassers receive direct and immediate utility from harassing, but also because harassment has the potential to slow down or even stop integration. Our main result is that such a setting can exhibit path dependence, where the success or failure of the early integration pathbreakers can be pivotal for the success and speed of the subsequent integration process. That is, early success is more likely to be followed by successful and faster integration than early failure, even when the early success is not due to aspects of the environment that make integration easier. In addition to our formal theoretical analysis of the role of harassment in the success and speed of integration, we apply our results to various historical episodes.
    JEL: D83 J15 J16
    Date: 2024–10
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:33065
  5. By: Kozo UEDA; Fei Gao
    Abstract: This study investigates how gamblers change their gambling and consumption behaviors after receiving gambling wins. We use novel bank transaction data from Japan, which contain information on both gambling bets and wins from public horse races with precise timelines. The estimation results reveal a positive marginal propensity to gamble (MPG) and consume (MPC) immediately following a win, al- though these effects dissipate within 12 weeks. Despite considerable heterogeneity in gambling intensity, the MPG and MPC remain stable. Light gamblers display no significant difference from non-gamblers in their MPC for government transfers in 2020. While liquidity constraints influence the MPC, they have no impact on the MPG. Moreover, we find little evidence supporting the loss-chasing effect, as gamblers increase bets when they are net winners.
    Date: 2024–10
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cnn:wpaper:24-019e

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