To the Slimmer Go the Spoils: Heterogeneous Responses to Bodyweight Incentives in Olympic Weightlifting Tournaments

Andrew W Nutting ()
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Andrew W Nutting: Department of Economics, Hamilton College, 198 College Hill Road, Clinton, NY 13323, USA.

Eastern Economic Journal, 2008, vol. 34, issue 3, 375-389

Abstract: When competitive weightlifters tie — a fairly frequent occurrence at the international level — the higher final rank is awarded to the lifter with the lower official bodyweight. Since winning a tiebreaker is more beneficial at higher ordinal ranks, tournament theory suggests a negative relationship between ability and bodyweight. Analysis from 58 Olympic tournaments shows evidence of a significantly negative relationship between ability and bodyweight except in heavier weight-classes. Cross-class differences in bodyweight reduction among high-ability lifters appear to be primarily attributable to cross-class differences in the expected benefits of bodyweight reduction. Eastern Economic Journal (2008) 34, 375–389. doi:10.1057/palgrave.eej.9050039

Date: 2008
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