Are Economic Agents Successful Optimizers? An Analysis Through Strategy in Tennis

F.J.G.M. Klaassen, J.R. Magnus

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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.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationTilburg
PublisherEconometrics
Number of pages33
Volume2006-52
Publication statusPublished - 2006

Publication series

NameCentER Discussion Paper
Volume2006-52

Keywords

  • Inefficiency
  • Frontier
  • Optimal strategy
  • Tennis

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