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Performance and Actual Pay in Norwegian Soccer

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  • Christer Thrane

Abstract

Data on actual earnings for soccer players are virtually impossible to obtain. For this reason, most performance–pay studies on soccer use market values as a proxy for earnings. No study to date has questioned whether this fact has had any bearing on the conclusions reached in the literature. This study examines this question by comparing how certain performance variables and player characteristics affect the actual earnings and market values of soccer players in the Norwegian version of the “Premier League,†the so-called Eliteserien . In several important respects, the analyses show that the regression coefficient estimates differ for actual earnings and market values. It is concluded that caution is warranted when interpreting performance variables’ and player characteristics’ effects on market values as they were effects on actual earnings.

Suggested Citation

  • Christer Thrane, 2019. "Performance and Actual Pay in Norwegian Soccer," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 20(8), pages 1051-1065, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jospec:v:20:y:2019:i:8:p:1051-1065
    DOI: 10.1177/1527002519851146
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Anil Özdemir & Helmut Dietl & Giambattista Rossi & Robert Simmons, 2020. "Are Workers Rewarded for Inconsistent Performance?," Working Papers 386, University of Zurich, Department of Business Administration (IBW).
    6. Tommy Quansah & Bernd Frick & Markus Lang & Kieran Maguire, 2021. "The Importance of Club Revenues for Player Salaries and Transfer Expenses—How Does the Coronavirus Outbreak (COVID-19) Impact the English Premier League?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-22, May.
    7. Marco Di Domizio & Raul Caruso & Bernd Frick, 2020. "Intelligenza Collettiva E Valore Di Mercato Dei Calciatori: Il Caso Transfermarkt," Rivista di Diritto ed Economia dello Sport, Centro di diritto e business dello Sport, vol. 16(2), pages 155-172, novembre.

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