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Discrimination in a Rank Order Contest. Evidence from the NFL Draft

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Listed:
  • Gregory-Smith, Ian

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Bryson, Alex

    (University College London)

  • Gomez, Rafael

    (University of Toronto)

Abstract

This paper examines discrimination in the NFL draft. The NFL is a favourable empirical setting to examine the role of skin colour because franchise selectors are required to make rank-order judgements of players based on noisy signals of future productivity. Since wages are tightly related to the rank-order of the draft for the first four years of a player's career, even if discrimination plays only a marginal role in selection, there could be a large discriminatory impact. We observe large unadjusted racial differences in drafting. However, much of the variation is explained by Black and White players selecting into different playing positions. Conditional upon a large set of control variables, including athletic performance at a marque selection event (the NFL combine), we do not find robust evidence of racial discrimination in NFL drafting between 2000 and 2018.

Suggested Citation

  • Gregory-Smith, Ian & Bryson, Alex & Gomez, Rafael, 2022. "Discrimination in a Rank Order Contest. Evidence from the NFL Draft," IZA Discussion Papers 15473, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15473
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    discrimination; race; NFL;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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