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The (non) determinants of Olympic success

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  • Johan Rewilak

Abstract

This paper empirically examines the determinants of Summer Olympic success during the period 1996-2016. By modifying the panel Tobit estimator using the Mundlak transform, the results find that population size and the host effect are the only statistically significant determinants of Olympic attainment. We also show that participating in front of a home crowd will stimulate athletic performance equally for each gender, but the impact of population differs between the sexes. These findings are confirmed using a hurdle estimator. This relaxes the assumption that the factors determining Olympic success are the same as those that influence the quantity of success.

Suggested Citation

  • Johan Rewilak, 2021. "The (non) determinants of Olympic success," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 22(5), pages 546-570, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jospec:v:22:y:2021:i:5:p:546-570
    DOI: 10.1177/1527002521992833
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Schlembach, Christoph & Schmidt, Sascha L. & Schreyer, Dominik & Wunderlich, Linus, 2022. "Forecasting the Olympic medal distribution – A socioeconomic machine learning model," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    2. Carl Singleton & J. James Reade & Johan Rewilak & Dominik Schreyer, 2021. "How big is home advantage at the Olympic Games?," Economics Discussion Papers em-dp2021-13, Department of Economics, University of Reading.

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