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Peer effects and worker visibility in team production: evidence from NBA rookies

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  • Evangelia Chalioti
  • Konstantinos Chountas
  • Christos Genakos
  • Konstantinos Serfes

Abstract

This paper examines how peer quality impacts early career visibility, productivity, and longterm earnings in team based settings. While high ability peers can generate positive spillovers, they may limit opportunities for less experienced individuals to showcase their skills, limiting visibility and career progression. Using National Basketball Association (NBA) data, where rookies are quasi-randomly assigned to teams, we find that stronger teams provide less playing time. This reduces rookies' experience, performance, and future earnings. A theoretical model identifies reduced exposure as the key mechanism, with broader implications for team based industries where early exposure shapes career paths.

Suggested Citation

  • Evangelia Chalioti & Konstantinos Chountas & Christos Genakos & Konstantinos Serfes, 2026. "Peer effects and worker visibility in team production: evidence from NBA rookies," CEP Discussion Papers dp2166, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp2166
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    References listed on IDEAS

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