Journal article

Authors list: Kempa, Karol

Publication year: 2022

Pages: 136-154

Journal: Oxford Economic Papers

Volume number: 74

Issue number: 1

ISSN: 0030-7653

eISSN: 1464-3812

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/oep/gpab006

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Abstract: 
This paper analyses returns to task specialization using a unique panel data set of professional football players in the German Bundesliga. Based on accumulated task-specific human capital, I measure whether a player is rather a specialist in one task or a generalist able to perform several tasks. Using OLS, fixed effects, and quantile regression methods (with individual fixed effects), I analyse the impact of specialization on remuneration. Differentiating by player role in team production, I find that core team members, i.e. starting players, exhibit positive returns to specialization, which increase at higher salary quantiles. In contrast, substitutes, in particular those in the lower half of the conditional salary distribution, seem to benefit from being generalists, which renders them more attractive as substitute players for their teams. The paper discusses implications of the findings for other labour market contexts.

Harvard Citation style: Kempa, K. (2022) Task-specific human capital and returns to specialization: evidence from association football, Oxford Economic Papers, 74(1), pp. 136-154. https://doi.org/10.1093/oep/gpab006

APA Citation style: Kempa, K. (2022). Task-specific human capital and returns to specialization: evidence from association football. Oxford Economic Papers. 74(1), 136-154. https://doi.org/10.1093/oep/gpab006