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Compensation Discrimination: an Analysis of Linebackers, Defensive Linemen, and Defensive Backs in the National Football League

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The Review of Black Political Economy

Abstract

Previous studies have analyzed compensation discrimination in the National Football League with mixed results. We examine the market for defensive players: defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs and find some evidence of discrimination against Black linebackers. We do not find any evidence of discrimination against Black defensive linemen and defensive backs. Our results provide some support for the hypothesis that employers, employees, or customers discriminate against Black linebackers due to prejudice against Black players who have to make decisions that play a major role in the success of the entire defense.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, USA

    Johnny Ducking

  2. Department of Economics, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, USA

    Peter A. Groothuis

  3. Department of Economics, Central Michigan University, Mt Pleasant, MI, USA

    James Richard Hill

Authors
  1. Johnny Ducking
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  2. Peter A. Groothuis
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  3. James Richard Hill
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Johnny Ducking.

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Ducking, J., Groothuis, P.A. & Hill, J.R. Compensation Discrimination: an Analysis of Linebackers, Defensive Linemen, and Defensive Backs in the National Football League. Rev Black Polit Econ 44, 251–260 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12114-017-9256-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12114-017-9256-y

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