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Risk Aversion and Wages: Evidence from the Baseball Labor Market

Author

Listed:
  • Stephen J. K. Walters

    (Loyola University Maryland)

  • Peter Allmen

    (Skidmore College)

  • Anthony Krautmann

    (DePaul University)

Abstract

We develop a bargaining model to assess how workers and employers might allocate wages inter-temporally in order to cope with risk. We then apply this model to 106 long-term contracts for major league baseball players’ services. Most of these agreements not only smooth employee compensation over time but suggest greater relative risk aversion for teams than players. Compared to the wages they might pay to retain these players on a succession of one-year contracts, teams often pay a premium on longer-term agreements to protect against market volatility and potential inability to replace a key player on the open market.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen J. K. Walters & Peter Allmen & Anthony Krautmann, 2017. "Risk Aversion and Wages: Evidence from the Baseball Labor Market," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 45(3), pages 385-397, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:atlecj:v:45:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1007_s11293-017-9545-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s11293-017-9545-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Krautmann, Anthony C, 1999. "What's Wrong with Scully-Estimates of a Player's Marginal Revenue Product," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 37(2), pages 369-381, April.
    2. Scully, Gerald W, 1974. "Pay and Performance in Major League Baseball," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 64(6), pages 915-930, December.
    3. John D. Burger & Stephen J.K. Walters, 2005. "Arbitrator Bias and Self-Interest: Lessons from the Baseball Labor Market," Journal of Labor Research, Transaction Publishers, vol. 26(2), pages 267-280, January.
    4. John D. Burger & Stephen J. K. Walters, 2003. "Market Size, Pay, and Performance," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 4(2), pages 108-125, May.
    5. Kahn, Lawrence M, 1993. "Free Agency, Long-Term Contracts and Compensation in Major League Baseball: Estimates from Panel Data," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 75(1), pages 157-164, February.
    6. Joel Maxcy, 2004. "Motivating long-term employment contracts: risk management in major league baseball," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(2), pages 109-120.
    7. Rosen, Sherwin, 1985. "Implicit Contracts: A Survey," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 23(3), pages 1144-1175, September.
    8. repec:hoo:wpaper:e-90-3 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Anthony C. Krautmann, 2017. "Risk-Averse Team Owners and Players’ Salaries in Major League Baseball," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 18(1), pages 19-33, January.
    10. John D. Burger & Stephen J.K. Walters, 2008. "The Existence and Persistence of a Winner's Curse: New Evidence from the (Baseball) Field," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 75(1), pages 232-245, July.
    11. John L. Solow & Anthony C. Krautmann, 2011. "A Nash Bargaining Model of the Salaries of Elite Free Agents," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 12(3), pages 309-316, June.
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    Cited by:

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    2. John L. Solow & Anthony C. Krautmann, 2020. "Do You Get What You Pay for? Salary and Ex Ante Player Value in Major League Baseball," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 21(7), pages 705-722, October.

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    Keywords

    Wages; Risk; Contracts; Sports;
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