The structure of sumo wrestling tournaments contributes to the potential for cheating due to the high stakes involved in the rankings. The rankings, determined by the number of wins at bimonthly tournaments, influence every aspect of a wrestler's life. An unusually high number of wrestlers with a 7-7 record have been found to win their final bout, leading to suspicions of higher-ranked wrestlers being bribed to lose in favor of a competitor who would otherwise not advance. The tight-knit sumo community and the high stakes involved also provide strong moral and social incentives for higher-ranked wrestlers to assist those at risk of falling back in the rankings.
Author Steven Levitt, working with journalist Stephen Dubner, shows how economic theories can be use...
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