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6. Why the World Cup Is an Economist's Dream

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June 10, 2010

TLDR: Steve Levitt discusses how penalty kicks affect home-field advantage and relates this to track running tracks and World Cup outcomes.

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  • The impact of stadium design on the home-field advantage in soccerThe design of a stadium can impact the outcome of a soccer game by creating a home-field advantage, which can be influenced by the proximity of fans to the pitch and the potential influence on referees.

    The World Cup provides insights into the home-field advantage and the impact of stadium design on fans and officials. In soccer, stadiums built solely for soccer have fans closer to the pitch and create an intimidating presence that can sway referees to make decisions in favor of the home team. This is evident through the addition of extra time in games where the home team is behind. The study shows that the presence of fans close to the pitch is only possible in stadiums built exclusively for soccer and not in multi-use stadiums. These findings show the important role that stadium design plays in creating a home-field advantage and the impact of fans on officials and ultimately, the outcome of a game.

  • The Strategy of Penalty Kicks in Soccer MatchesPenalty kicks in soccer matches offer a unique insight into game theory. Research shows that right-footed kickers are more likely to score when kicking to the left, but goalies often anticipate this move. Additionally, kicking straight down the middle is the most effective way to score, but is rarely used due to potential embarrassment. The accuracy of these predictions reveals the strategic thinking of players and the impact of external factors on the game.

    During soccer matches, home teams tend to have extra minutes added to the game when they are leading. Penalty kicks offer a fascinating insight into game theory because it fits perfectly into a two-person simultaneous move game. Research shows that a right-footed kicker has a higher chance of scoring when kicking to the left, but goalies know this too and are more likely to jump to the left. Unexpectedly, kickers rarely choose to kick straight down the middle, which happens to be the most effective way to score as goalies are almost never positioned there, which could be due to embarrassment. The accuracy of these predictions highlights the strategic thinking of players and indicates the influence of external factors on the game.

  • The Psychology of Penalty Kicks: Private Incentives and Optimal ShotsIn penalty kicks, players are driven by personal incentives, such as avoiding looking foolish. Game theory may not fully capture these incentives, making penalty kicks a complex blend of strategy and psychology.

    In penalty kicks, players have private incentives that go beyond just scoring a goal. They also want to avoid looking foolish by having their shot stopped by the goalie, which could have significant negative consequences for their career. This can lead players to not take the optimal shot, but rather a safe one that may have a lower chance of success. While game theory is useful for understanding many aspects of sports, it may not fully capture these private incentives. Ultimately, players will make choices that benefit themselves, rather than the team or country. As a result, penalty kicks can be a complex blend of strategy and psychology.

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