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The effect of league design on club revenues in the Scottish Premier League

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  • Reilly, Barry
  • Witt, Robert

Abstract

This paper exploits a sharp regression discontinuity design (RDD) to causally identify the impact of the league ‘split’ on Scottish Premier League (SPL) club revenues. The data used are drawn from 21 completed seasons in which the institutional arrangement has been in place in Scotland’s elite tier of professional soccer. The empirical analysis fails to detect strong or persuasive statistical evidence that the league design substantially impacts the revenue distribution of the participating clubs. Given the league design is found to be close to financially-neutral for the clubs most directly affected by the ‘split’, it is not viewed as a catalyst in driving financial inequality within the league.

Suggested Citation

  • Reilly, Barry & Witt, Robert, 2024. "The effect of league design on club revenues in the Scottish Premier League," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 123046, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:123046
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/123046/
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jennett, Nicholas I, 1984. "Attendances, Uncertainty of Outcome and Policy in Scottish League Football," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 31(2), pages 176-198, June.
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    6. Barry Reilly & Robert Witt, 2021. "The Effect of League Design on Spectator Attendance: A Regression Discontinuity Design Approach," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 22(5), pages 514-545, June.
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    14. Ryan Dansby & R Todd Jewell, 2014. "A Violent Response to Changing the Rules of the Game: The Case of “The Split” in Scottish Premier League Soccer," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 40(4), pages 473-487, September.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    financial revenues sharp RDD; SPL ‘split’;

    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • Z00 - Other Special Topics - - General - - - General

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