https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5818-8470
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ABSTRACT
Research question
This study examines gender differences in human capital, performance characteristics, and earnings among elite athletes in semi-professional sports in Germany.
Research methods
In 2018, a nationwide online survey of elite athletes supported by the German Sports Aid Foundation was conducted where they were asked about their life and earnings situation (n = 1064). Regression analyses were estimated to identify the role of gender while controlling for human capital and performance characteristics.
Results and findings
The results showed a significant gender earnings gap in favor of male athletes for annual earnings and calculatory wage rate. This gap is mainly driven by gender differences in earnings from work and public sport funding, while financial support from the German Sports Aid Foundation and from family/friends attenuated the gap. The results can be explained by treatment discrimination and male athletes’ preferences for current work, while female athletes invested significantly more time into studying/learning and their human capital, respectively.
Implications
The findings have implications for funding institutions as well as people involved in supporting elite athletes in semi-professional sports.
Research contribution
Since earnings data are typically not publicly available, this study relies on unique data to examine athletes’ earnings taking a gender perspective.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 The German elite sport system has undergone a reform which included a restructuring of the squad structure; however, at the time of data collection, this squad structure was still in effect.