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Pressure versus ability: Evidence from penalty shoot-outs between teams from different divisions

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  • Krumer, Alex

Abstract

This study utilizes data from 586 shoot-outs between teams from different divisions in national cups of the top five European soccer countries. We find that a difference in one league between the teams increases the gap between probabilities of winning by 8 percentage points in favor of a team from a higher division. This result contradicts the widespread belief that penalty shoot-outs are a game of chance, highlighting the importance of ability even in a simple mechanical task that takes place in high-pressure situations.

Suggested Citation

  • Krumer, Alex, 2020. "Pressure versus ability: Evidence from penalty shoot-outs between teams from different divisions," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:89:y:2020:i:c:s2214804320300240
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2020.101578
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Bar-Eli, Michael & Krumer, Alex & Morgulev, Elia, 2020. "Ask not what economics can do for sports - Ask what sports can do for economics," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    2. Christoph Buehren & Marvin Gabriel, 2021. "Performing best when it matters the most: Evidence from professional handball," MAGKS Papers on Economics 202119, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Performance; Soccer; Collective decision-making; Choking;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D00 - Microeconomics - - General - - - General
    • L00 - Industrial Organization - - General - - - General
    • D20 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - General
    • D79 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Other
    • Z20 - Other Special Topics - - Sports Economics - - - General

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