Rules Make People

The Florida Panthers won another Stanley Cup last night, essentially showing goalies are more important in hockey than offensive stars. As always, the Stanley Cup Final was a spectacle few other sports events can compete with.

I grew up with soccer, but I have more and more problems watching it with pleasure. That is because its rules cause bad player behavior. I cannot stomach the delay tactics & theatrics, and I want a stop-clock. Purists say it will change the game forever. That’s exactly what is needed.

Hockey has found its sweet spot of rules. 2-Minute minor and 5-minute major penalties are just punishing enough to make players and their team take notice. The yellow and red cards in soccer are too big and permanent, resulting in referees too reluctant to use them.

These differences make most hockey players stand-up folks while they make many soccer players into a … - well, sorry, no need to discuss cleaning products here. Suffice it to say there is a remarkable difference in on-field behavior that often extends beyond the game.

That difference is also visible in people living in different countries. People from North vs South Korea come from the same background. But as shown below, things changed when they split up.

Rule of law fosters meritocracy, while the lack thereof fosters cronyism. It is not a coincidence that the countries with poor rule of law are the same countries where it takes a long time to set up a business. As Magatte Wade often states so clearly, every step in the paperwork trail to start your business is an opportunity for a corrupt official to earn a bribe.

That’s an instant red card for businesses. And often, people decide they won’t play after that.

Rulers, especially in Asia and Africa, should watch more playoff hockey.