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Exit Discrimination in the NBA: A Duration Analysis of Career Length
Author(s) -
Groothuis Peter A.,
Hill J. Richard
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
economic inquiry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1465-7295
pISSN - 0095-2583
DOI - 10.1093/ei/cbh065
Subject(s) - duration (music) , economics , wage , competition (biology) , panel data , race (biology) , demographic economics , sports economics , statistical discrimination , labour economics , econometrics , sociology , league , gender studies , art , ecology , physics , literature , astronomy , biology
Using a panel study of annual NBA data (1989–99) we do not find evidence of exit discrimination on career length in the NBA. This result is inconsistent with results from data in the 1980s but is consistent with more recent findings that have measured wage discrimination in sports in the 1990s. In our semiparametric duration analysis, we find that performance variables are important in determining career length. These results suggest that team owners in the pursuit of championships keep talented players regardless of race. This is an affirmation of Becker's theoretical implications of market competition on discrimination. (JEL J71 , J23 )