Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-2016
Published In
Journal of Sports Economics
Volume
17
Issue
5
Pages
427-452
DOI
10.1177/1527002516641166
Recommended Citation
Qi Ge and Michael J. Lopez, "Lockouts and Player Productivity: Evidence from the National Hockey League," Journal of Sports Economics, 17(5), June 2016, pp. 427-452. http://jse.sagepub.com/content/17/5/427.refs
Abstract
We implement a propensity score matching technique to present the first evidence on the impact of professional sports lockouts on player productivity. In particular, we utilize a unique natural experiment from the 2012-2013 National Hockey League lockout, during which approximately 200 players decided to play overseas, while the rest stayed in North America. We separate players based on their nationality and investigate the effect of playing abroad on postlockout player performance. We find limited evidence of enhanced productivity among European players and no evidence of a benefit or drawback for North American players. Our study contributes to the understanding of lockouts in professional sports and the general discussion of labor disputes and worker productivity.
Keywords
lockout, professional sports league, player performance, matching, propensity scores