Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/33597 
Year of Publication: 
2005
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 1595
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Analyzing the neutrality of referees during twelve German premier league (1st Bundesliga) football seasons, this paper documents evidence that social forces influence agents' preferences and decisions. Those, who are appointed to be impartial, tend to favor the home team as they systematically award more injury time in close matches when the home team is behind. Referees also tend to favor the home team in decisions to award goals and penalty kicks. The composition of the crowd affects the size and the direction of the bias. The intensity of social pressure as measured by the crowd's proximity to the field determines how strongly referees' decisions are influenced. Not all agents are, however, affected to the same degree by social pressure.
Subjects: 
favoritism
principal-agent relationship
personnel economics
JEL: 
J00
M50
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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