The shape of success: estimating contest success functions in sports

Thomas Peeters
University of Antwerp

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     Last modified: September 28, 2010
     Presentation date: 03/12/2011 4:30 PM in NH 1140, Session C
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Abstract
In this note I estimate and compare Tullock- and Hirshleifer-style contest success functions (CSFs) using data from the 4 major American sports leagues. I find that Tullock CSFs based on relative efforts fit the data better than Hirshleifer CSFs based on absolute effort differences.