David Berri

Cedar City

Prof. of Econ at Southern Utah University, author/co-author of six books, including "The Wages of Wins" & "Slaying the Trolls!". he/him first gen student

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Articles

One Million is the Average, Not the Max!

3 weeks ago | wagesofwins.substack.com | David Berri

The WNBA kicks off its 29th year this weekend and there are so many amazing stories to see this season. But as we watch the Minnesota Lynx win their 5th WNBA title (yes, that’s what the majority of people at ESPN said is going to happen!), there is another story hovering over the league. The players and the WNBA are going to have to renegotiate the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement before the 2026 season begins. And it is not entirely clear the players and the league will reach an agreement.
Given Enough Time and Patience, Kim Ng and the AUSL Will Find Success

1 month ago | wagesofwins.substack.com | David Berri

On Wednesday, Kim Ng was named the new commissioner of the Athlete’s Unlimited Softball League (AUSL). For those who don’t remember, Ng was the first woman to be named general manager of a Major League Baseball team. In 2023, Ng led the Marlins to its first playoff appearance in a non-COVID year in twenty years. As her reward, the owner sought to limit her authority. Consequently, Ng decided to leave the Marlins and then the team in 2024 promptly lost 100 games.
The Failed Assumptions of Free Trade

2 months ago | thesling.org | Mark Glick |Gabriel Lozada |Darren Bush |David Berri

Free trade is under increasing attack by both the progressive left and the populist right. Although the left and the right offer different policy solutions—the progressive left stresses combining industrial policy, antitrust policy, and support for labor with targeted tariffs, while the populist right advocates a wider use of tariffs combined with stricter immigration policy—supporters of both of these groups no longer adhere to the neoliberal free trade approach advocated by most economists.
The WNBA Labor Dispute Is Just Another Choice Made by the NBA

2 months ago | thesling.org | David Berri |Dylan Gyauch-Lewis |Peter Carstensen

Last October, the WNBA’s players opted out of their collective bargaining agreement. After very little news for months, stars like Napheesa Collier, Angel Reese, and DiJonai Carrington all indicated recently that the players will hold out if the WNBA doesn’t start paying the players better. The statements suggest a labor dispute might be coming to the WNBA. But who is actually participating in the dispute? This may seem like an odd question to ask.
What Obligation Does a Successful Employer Owe Its Workers?

Feb 19, 2025 | thesling.org | Hal Singer |David Berri |Venu Julapalli

Imagine two business partners, Sue and Steve, form a company. The company finds success and is acquired by a larger competitor. After the sale has been consummated but before the payment has arrived, Sue seeks to dissolve the partnership, asserting that Steve does not deserve any of the proceeds from the sale.
Larry Bird and Magic Johnson Did Not Save the NBA

Jan 23, 2025 | wagesofwins.substack.com | David Berri

On February 7th, I am going to present one of my latest papers at the Reading Online Sports Economics Seminar. The presentation – which everyone will be able to see on YouTube – primarily focuses on how the new NBA’s media deal impacts the gender-wage gap we see in professional basketball. As I tell this story, I make the following comparison between Walt Frazier and A’Ja Wilson.
A Somewhat Expected End to a Magical Season

Jan 20, 2025 | wagesofwins.substack.com | David Berri

The Detroit Lions had a magical regular season. The 2024 team set a franchise record in winning percentage and point differential. Only the 1934 Lions posted a better margin of victory. And according to Pro Football Reference’s Simple Rating System (SRS) – which takes into account margin of victory and strength of schedule – only the 1954 and 1970 Lions posted a better SRS. The 2024 Lions weren’t just one of the best teams in franchise history.
When it Comes to WNBA Profits, Focus On What People Do. Not What People Say!

Nov 25, 2024 | wagesofwins.substack.com | David Berri

Economics is supposed to be social science. But it tends not to be very social. Unlike psychologists or sociologists, economists don’t tend to do many surveys of people. Economists tend to think what matters is what people do, not what they say. Of course, that’s how we explain the lack of surveys. Economists also don’t seem very good at talking to people! But that’s a story for another day.
Maybe the NBA is Just Really, Really Bad at Business

Oct 29, 2024 | wagesofwins.substack.com | David Berri

Last week, Trysta Krick and I had a conversation about the idea that the WNBA is losing money (which you can now see on Youtube). Unlike certain New York reporters, Trysta finds the idea to be preposterous. In fact, Trysta has noted that it is not a coincidence that the New York Post reports that the WNBA is losing money just days before the WNBA players opt out of a collective bargaining agreement because they want to be paid more money.
The WNBA is NOT in Financial Trouble.

Oct 27, 2024 | wagesofwins.substack.com | David Berri

On Friday afternoon I spent more than an hour talking to a reporter about the current state of the WNBA. After the interview concluded, I decided to take a walk across the beautiful Southern Utah University campus. As I walked, I came across one of my colleagues on campus.