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Are professional basketball players reference-dependent?

Author

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  • Lester Lusher
  • Chuan He
  • Stephen Fick

Abstract

Models with reference-dependent preferences suggest that agents exert considerable effort to avoid falling below a reference point and ‘losing’. We provide visual and statistical evidence that player performances in the National Basketball Association (NBA) bunch at salient, normatively extraneous round numbers. Using data on nearly three million shot attempts with precise ($$x$$x , $$y$$y ) coordinates, we find that players improve free throw accuracy and attempt shots closer to the hoop when shooting for a round number. The results are strongest for players on home teams, suggesting that the reference-dependent enters preferences through an external, social evaluation channel.

Suggested Citation

  • Lester Lusher & Chuan He & Stephen Fick, 2018. "Are professional basketball players reference-dependent?," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(36), pages 3937-3948, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:50:y:2018:i:36:p:3937-3948
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2018.1430345
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    Cited by:

    1. Haoyu Liu & Lifeng Yang & Duane T. Wegener, 2023. "Effects of labeling on risk taking in “leveling-up” decisions: ascending versus descending permutations and ending in terminal values," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 34(1), pages 125-138, March.

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