Does the Three-Point Rule Make Soccer More Exciting? Evidence from a Regression Discontinuity Design

Yoong Hon Lee and Rasyad Parinduri

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: We examine whether the three-point rule—the increase in rewards for a win from two- to three points that FIFA adopted in 1995—makes Bundesliga games become more exciting. Using regression discontinuity design as the empirical strategy, we do not find evidence that the three-point rule makes games more decisive, increases the number of goals, or decreases goal differences. We only find some evidence that the three-point rule increases the second-half goals of losing first-half teams. Overall, our results suggest that, in the case of Bundesliga games, the three-point rule does not work as FIFA intended.

Keywords: three-point rule; soccer; regression discontinuity design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C23 D01 L83 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-spo
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Does the Three-Point Rule Make Soccer More Exciting? Evidence From a Regression Discontinuity Design (2016)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pra:mprapa:48467

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