We exploit a major structural change that has occurred in world soccer to study the impact of incentives on outcomes in a strategic setting. A game-theoretic model is developed that captures some essential strategic elements of soccer vis-à-vis the number of points awarded to a win. The observable implications of the model are tested using a large dataset that spans 30 years and 35 countries. The empirical results support the theoretical model and show that the 3-point system has led to a statistically significant increase in the expected number of goals and a decrease in the fractions of drawn matches.
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Paper provided by Iowa State University, Department of Economics in its series Staff General Research Papers with number
12942.
Length: 30 pages Date of creation: 04 Jun 2008 Date of revision: Publication status: Forthcoming in Economic Inquiry Handle: RePEc:isu:genres:12942
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Find related papers by JEL classification: C7 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games L8 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services
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