Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Series: Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers
Creation-Date: 2006-05-22
Number: 06-048/2
Author-Name: Franc J.G.M. Klaasen
Author-Email: f.klaassen@uva.nl
Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Economics and Econometrics, Universiteit van Amsterdam
Author-Name: Jan R. Magnus
Author-Email: magnus@uvt.nl
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Econometrics and OR, Tilburg University
Title: Are Economic Agents Successful Optimizers? An Analysis through Service Strategy in Tennis
Abstract: We consider the question whether top tennis players in a top tournament (Wimbledon) employ an optimal (efficient) service strategy. We show that top players do not, in general, follow an optimal strategy, and we provide a lower bound of the inefficiency. The inefficiency regarding winning a point on service is on average at least 1.1% for men and 2.0% for women, leading to a possible increase of income for the efficient player of 18.7% for men and 32.8% for women. We use these findings to shed some light on the question whether economic agents are successful optimizers.
Classification-JEL: C14; C15; D01; D21
Keywords: Inefficiency; Frontier; Optimal strategy; Tennis
File-Url: https://papers.tinbergen.nl/06048.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 413881 bytes
Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:20060048