| By: |
Gregory-Smith, Ian (University of Sheffield);
Bryson, Alex (University College London);
Gomez, Rafael (University of Toronto) |
| Abstract: |
This paper examines discrimination in the NFL draft. The NFL is a favourable
empirical setting to examine the role of skin colour because franchise
selectors are required to make rank-order judgements of players based on noisy
signals of future productivity. Since wages are tightly related to the
rank-order of the draft for the first four years of a player's career, even if
discrimination plays only a marginal role in selection, there could be a large
discriminatory impact. We observe large unadjusted racial differences in
drafting. However, much of the variation is explained by Black and White
players selecting into different playing positions. Conditional upon a large
set of control variables, including athletic performance at a marque selection
event (the NFL combine), we do not find robust evidence of racial
discrimination in NFL drafting between 2000 and 2018. |
| Keywords: |
discrimination, race, NFL |
| JEL: |
J15 J24 |
| Date: |
2022–08 |
| URL: |
http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15473&r= |