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Wage dispersion and team performance: a theoretical model and evidence from baseball

Author

Listed:
  • Robert Breunig
  • Bronwyn Garrett-Rumba
  • Mathieu Jardin
  • Yvon Rocaboy

Abstract

We develop a general theoretical model of the effect of wage dispersion on team performance which nests two possibilities: wage inequality may have either negative or positive effects on team performance. A parameter which captures the marginal cost of effort, which we estimate using game-level data from Major League Baseball, determines whether wage dispersion and team performance are negatively or positively related. We find low marginal cost of effort; consequently, wage disparity is negatively related to team performance. Game and season-level regressions also indicate a negative relationship between inequality and performance. We discuss a variety of interpretations of our results.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Breunig & Bronwyn Garrett-Rumba & Mathieu Jardin & Yvon Rocaboy, 2014. "Wage dispersion and team performance: a theoretical model and evidence from baseball," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(3), pages 271-281, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:46:y:2014:i:3:p:271-281
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2013.839864
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    Cited by:

    1. Tao, Yu-Li & Chuang, Hwei-Lin & Lin, Eric S., 2016. "Compensation and performance in Major League Baseball: Evidence from salary dispersion and team performance," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 151-159.
    2. Thomas M. Fullerton & James T. Peach, 2016. "Major League Baseball 2015, What a Difference a Year Makes," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(18), pages 1289-1293, December.
    3. Yvon Rocaboy & Marek Pavlik, 2020. "Performance Expectations of Professional Sport Teams and In-Season Head Coach Dismissals—Evidence from the English and French Men’s Football First Divisions," Economies, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-20, October.
    4. Caruso, Raul & Carlo, Bellavite Pellegrini & Marco, Di Domizio, 2016. "Does diversity in the payroll affect soccer teams’ performance? Evidence from the Italian Serie A," MPRA Paper 75644, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Chris Jeffords & Todd Potts, 2019. "NFL Salary Cap Allocation: Matching Theory with Observed Behavior," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 39(1), pages 270-279.
    6. Craig A. Depken & Jeff Lureman, 2018. "Wage Disparity, Team Performance, And The 2005 Nhl Collective Bargaining Agreement," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 36(1), pages 192-199, January.
    7. Carlo Bellavite Pellegrini & Raul Caruso & Marco Di Domizio, 2021. "Relative wages, payroll structure and performance in soccer. Evidence from Italian Serie A (2007-2019)," DISCE - Quaderni del Dipartimento di Politica Economica dipe0015, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Dipartimenti e Istituti di Scienze Economiche (DISCE).
    8. Anna Bykova & Dennis Coates, 2020. "Does Experience Matter? Salary Dispersion, Coaching, And Team Performance," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 38(1), pages 188-205, January.
    9. Fullerton, Steven L. & Fullerton, Thomas M., Jr. & Walke, Adam G., 2014. "An Econometric Analysis of the 2013 Major League Baseball Season," MPRA Paper 59593, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 11 Mar 2014.
    10. Anna Bykova & Dennis Coates, 2022. "Professional team sporting success: do economic and personal freedom provide competitive advantages?," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 323-358, December.
    11. Marco Di Domizio & Carlo Bellavite Pellegrini & Raul Caruso, 2022. "Payroll dispersion and performance in soccer: A seasonal perspective analysis for Italian Serie A (2007–2021)," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 40(3), pages 513-525, July.
    12. Papahristodoulou, Christos, 2012. "A NLIP Model on Wage Dispersion and Team Performance," MPRA Paper 39149, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Thadeu Gasparetto & Angel Barajas, 2022. "Wage Dispersion and Team Performance: The Moderation Role of Club Size," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 23(5), pages 548-566, June.
    14. Frank TENKORANG & Bree L. DORITY & Eddery LAM, 2014. "Nba Endgame: Do Salaries Matter?," Review of Economic and Business Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, issue 14, pages 51-62, December.
    15. Patrick J. Ferguson & Matthew Pinnuck, 2022. "Superstar Productivity and Pay: Evidence from the Australian Football League," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 98(321), pages 166-190, June.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D3 - Microeconomics - - Distribution
    • J3 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs

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