Competition and efficiency in professional sports leagues*

Authors note: For valuable remarks and help in translation my special thanks goes to Janet and William Duke and two anonymous reviewers.

Abstract

The competitive situation of professional sports leagues and the clubs organised within has been one of the major concerns in the literature on sports economics. This article deals with competition in professional sports leagues in Europe and North America. It assumes that the relegation rule, which is in effect in most of the European professional sports leagues, forces clubs to manage more efficiently, because it is an additional element of competition at the club level.

Notes

Authors note: For valuable remarks and help in translation my special thanks goes to Janet and William Duke and two anonymous reviewers.