The Impact of Age on Nationality Bias: Evidence from Ski Jumping

TL;DR

This study investigates how age influences nationality bias among ski jumping judges, showing that younger judges exhibit less bias, possibly due to globalization reducing discrimination across generations.

Contribution

It provides empirical evidence linking age to nationality bias in sports judging, highlighting the role of globalization in diminishing such biases among younger judges.

Findings

Younger judges show less nationality bias.

Judges tend to favor their own nationality.

Globalization may reduce discrimination in judging.

Abstract

This empirical research explores the impact of age on nationality bias. World Cup competition data suggest that judges of professional ski jumping competitions prefer jumpers of their own nationality and exhibit this preference by rewarding them with better marks. Furthermore, the current study reveals that this nationality bias is diminished among younger judges, in accordance with the reported lower levels of national discrimination among younger generations. Globalisation and its effect in reducing class-based thinking may explain this reduced bias in judgment of others.