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Inside the NBA Bubble: how Black players performed better without fans

Author

Listed:
  • Mauro Caselli

    (University of Trento)

  • Paolo Falco

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Babak Somekh

    (Baruch College)

Abstract

In the NBA, predominantly Black players play in front of predominantly non-Black fans. Using the “NBA Bubble”, a natural experiment induced by COVID-19, we show that the performance of Black players improved significantly with the absence of fans vis-à-vis White players. This is consistent with Black athletes being negatively affected by racial pressure from mostly non-Black audiences. We control for player, team, and game fixed effects, and dispel alternative mechanisms. Beyond hurting individual players, racial pressure causes significant economic damage to NBA teams by lowering the performance of top athletes and the quality of the game.

Suggested Citation

  • Mauro Caselli & Paolo Falco & Babak Somekh, 2024. "Inside the NBA Bubble: how Black players performed better without fans," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 37(2), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jopoec:v:37:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s00148-024-01021-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s00148-024-01021-y
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    Keywords

    Discrimination; Harassment; Racism; Performance; Basketball; NBA; COVID-19;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • Z22 - Other Special Topics - - Sports Economics - - - Labor Issues

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