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Peer Effects in Team Sports: Empirical Evidence from NCAA Relay Teams

Author

Listed:
  • Craig A. Depken, II

    (Department of Economics, University of North Carolina - Charlotte)

  • Lisa E. Haglund

    (Department of Economics, University of Texas at Arlington)

Abstract

This paper investigates whether disparity in team member quality impacts team production using NCAA 4x400m relay teams. The net peer effects are estimated to have both an absolute and relative negative effect on the team performance. Because NCAA relay teams are comprised of unpaid amateurs, we utilize a direct measure of team-member quality rather than indirect measures such as wages. The evidence suggests that a greater disparity in team member quality reduces team performance, that is, it increases a relay team’s running time. This suggests that net negative peer effects exist and support the “team cohesiveness hypothesis” for NCAA relay teams.

Suggested Citation

  • Craig A. Depken, II & Lisa E. Haglund, 2007. "Peer Effects in Team Sports: Empirical Evidence from NCAA Relay Teams," Working Papers 0729, International Association of Sports Economists;North American Association of Sports Economists.
    • Handle: RePEc:spe:wpaper:0729
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    File URL: http://web.holycross.edu/RePEc/spe/DepkenHaglund_Relays.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. W. David Allen, 2021. "Work Environment and Worker Performance: A View from the Goal Crease," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 42(3), pages 418-448, December.
    2. Mariia Molodchik & Sofiia Paklina & Petr Parshakov, 2021. "Peer Effects on Individual Performance in a Team Sport," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 22(5), pages 571-586, June.
    3. Brady, Ryan R. & Insler, Michael A. & Rahman, Ahmed S., 2017. "Bad Company: Understanding negative peer effects in college achievement," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 144-168.
    4. Julia Müller & Thorsten Upmann, 2017. "Eigenvalue Productivity: Measurement of Individual Contributions in Teams," CESifo Working Paper Series 6679, CESifo.
    5. Richard J. Paulsen, 2022. "Peer effects and human capital accumulation: Time spent in college and productivity in the National Basketball Association," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(8), pages 3611-3619, December.
    6. Candon Johnson & Robert Schultz & Joshua C. Hall, 2020. "Specialization and Performance: Evidence from NCAA 4 × 400 m Relay Times," Economies, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-7, November.
    7. Wen-Jhan Jane, 2015. "Peer Effects and Individual Performance," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 16(5), pages 531-539, June.
    8. Brad R. Humphreys & Jie Yang, 2021. "Peer enforcement in teams: evidence from high-skill professional workers with repeated interactions," Chapters, in: Ruud H. Koning & Stefan Kesenne (ed.), A Modern Guide to Sports Economics, chapter 20, pages 294-316, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    9. Matteo Pazzona, 2022. "Peer interactions and performance in a high‐skilled labour market," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 124(4), pages 1087-1116, October.
    10. Brady, Ryan R. & Insler, Michael A., 2019. "Order of play advantage in sequential tournaments: Evidence from randomized settings in professional golf," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 79-92.
    11. Philipp Wegelin & Johannes Orlowski & Helmut M. Dietl, 2022. "The importance of high performing team members in complex team work: Results from quasi‐experiments in professional team sports," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 60(3), pages 1296-1310, July.
    12. Julia Müller & Thorsten Upmann & Joachim Prinz, 2013. "Individual Team Productivity - A Conceptual Approach," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 13-183/I, Tinbergen Institute.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    teamwork; shirking; track and field; sports;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • L20 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - General
    • L83 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Sports; Gambling; Restaurants; Recreation; Tourism

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