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Genetic Diversity and Performance: Evidence from Fooball Data

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  • Michel Beine
  • Silvia Peracchi
  • Skerdilajda Zanaj

Abstract

The theoretical impact of genetic diversity is ambiguous since it leads to costs and benefits at the collective level. In this paper, we assess empirically the connection between genetic diversity and the performance of sport teams. Focusing on football (soccer), we built a novel dataset of national teams of European countries that have participated in the European and the World Championships since 1970. Determining the genetic diversity of national teams is based on the distance between the genetic scores of every players’ origins in the team. Genetic endowments for each player are recovered using a matching algorithm based on family names. Performance is measured at both the unilateral and bilateral level. Identification of the causal link relies on an instrumental variable strategy that is based on past immigration at the country level about one generation before. Our findings indicate a positive causal link between genetic diversity and teams’ performance. We find a substantial effect, a one-standard increase in diversity leading to ranking changes of two to three positions after each stage of a championship.

Suggested Citation

  • Michel Beine & Silvia Peracchi & Skerdilajda Zanaj, 2021. "Genetic Diversity and Performance: Evidence from Fooball Data," CESifo Working Paper Series 9188, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_9188
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    Cited by:

    1. Michele Baggio & Metin Cosgel, 2023. "Racial Diversity and Team Performance: Evidence from the American Offshore Whaling Industry," Working papers 2023-04, University of Connecticut, Department of Economics, revised Feb 2024.
    2. David Boto‐García & Carlos Varela‐Quintana & Alvaro Muñiz, 2023. "Foreign players, team production, and technical efficiency: Evidence from European soccer," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 75(4), pages 1209-1241, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    genetic diversity; football; sports team; performance; family names; migration;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • F66 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Labor
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence
    • Z22 - Other Special Topics - - Sports Economics - - - Labor Issues

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