Democracy and Football

GEN Working Paper B 2015-1

26 Pages Posted: 20 Mar 2015

See all articles by Ignacio Lago-Penas

Ignacio Lago-Penas

Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Department of Political Science

Carlos Lago-Peñas

University of Vigo

Santiago Lago-Peñas

University of Vigo, GEN (Governance and Economics Research Network)

Date Written: January 1, 2015

Abstract

In this paper we explore to what extent political regimes affect the competitive balance in domestic football (soccer) leagues. Relying on data from around 50 European countries and over 2,000 domestic leagues, we show that the percentage of league competitions won by the most successful club in the country is substantially lower in democracies than in non-democracies. Democratic transitions and higher levels of democracy trigger pressures to increase the competitive balance in football leagues in two ways. First, the link between non-democracies and specific teams breaks when a country experiences a transition to democracy. Second, the economic liberalization that takes place in transitions to democracy disperses resources and generates competition among descending and ascending teams. Finally, the competitive balance of domestic leagues has not been greatly affected by the Bosman transfer ruling, a sectorial liberalization shock on football labor markets.

Keywords: Democracy, Football, Market, Political Regime, Transition.

Suggested Citation

Lago-Penas, Ignacio and Lago-Peñas, Carlos and Lago-Peñas, Santiago, Democracy and Football (January 1, 2015). GEN Working Paper B 2015-1, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2580756

Ignacio Lago-Penas (Contact Author)

Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Department of Political Science ( email )

Ramon Trias Fargas 25-27
08005 Barcelona
Spain
(34) 93 542 2371 (Phone)
(34) 93 542 2372 (Fax)

Carlos Lago-Peñas

University of Vigo ( email )

E.U. de Enx. Técn. Industrial.
Vigo, Pontevedra E-36200
Spain

Santiago Lago-Peñas

University of Vigo, GEN (Governance and Economics Research Network) ( email )

Ourense, Ourense 32004
Spain

HOME PAGE: http://webs.uvigo.es/infogen

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
166
Abstract Views
1,402
Rank
324,242
PlumX Metrics