nep-spo New Economics Papers
on Sports and Economics
Issue of 2025–09–15
two papers chosen by
Humberto Barreto, DePauw University
  1. Outcome uncertainty and the demand for women’s football By Alex Farnell; Babatunde Buraimo; Jessica Hargreaves; Robert Simmons
  2. The Last Shall Be First: Innovation as a Head-to-Head Race By Patrick Arnold, Marc Möller, Catherine Roux
  1. By: Alex Farnell (Department of Economics, Finance and Accounting, Maynooth University.); Babatunde Buraimo (University of Liverpool); Jessica Hargreaves (University of York); Robert Simmons (Lancaster University)
    Abstract: We investigate the determinants of attendance demand in women’s football across three European countries. Our main focus is on the role that short-term (game level) and medium term (seasonal level) uncertainty of outcome play in determining attendances. We find no evidence that fans respond to game uncertainty in England and France in their decisions to attend, though there is some evidence they do in Germany. We explore this using alternative estimators. Moreover, attendances are higher in France and Germany when the match is of greater significance for the away team in terms of winning the championship. Home and away team strengths and scheduling conflicts with the men’s game produce are also shown to be important factors in shaping attendance demand at women’s football matches. Classification-D12, L83, Z21
    Keywords: Attendance Demand, Women’s Football, Outcome Uncertainty
    Date: 2025
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:may:mayecw:n322-25.pdf
  2. By: Patrick Arnold, Marc Möller, Catherine Roux
    Abstract: Uncertainty about the value of a contested innovation induces leaders and laggards to update their expectations in opposite directions. We characterize situations in which firms that have obtained an initial advantage are not the most likely to achieve final success. In spite of amplifying a leader’s advantage, greater contest intensity facilitates this effect, challenging the view that laggards require support to remain competitive.
    Keywords: innovation contests, learning, competitive balance, leapfrogging
    JEL: C72 D82
    Date: 2025–09
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ube:dpvwib:dp2025
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