NOTE: This is an occasional, piece unrelated to the weekly economic analysis piece that is circulated over the weekends, which will, of course, continue.

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End Inequality in Cleveland

       Watching the NBA playoffs one cannot but be upset at the rampant inequality that the league tolerates.  LeBron James constitutes less than 10% of the number of players on the Cleveland Cavaliers, but scores about 40% of the team's points. Think what this does to the self-esteem of the other players. Think how it distorts the distribution of the team's total payroll. Something must be done to end this inequality, to bring equality to basketball.

      One solution might be to tax some of his points and redistribute them to the records of other players, assigning most to the least productive team mates, but that might reduce his incentive to score, while increasing their incentive to remain on the bench, out of harm's way. Another would be to cap his scoring: when he begins to exceed the average of all players, he is done for the evening. Since he averages about as many points in a single quarter as all the Cavaliers would average if total points were equally shared, perhaps limit him to one quarter of play. Or restrict him to three-point attempts only, since that would minimize the advantage his strength gives him, while confining him to the sort of shots on which he has proved least efficient in the playoffs. Another might be to call a foul every time LeBron makes contact with another player by backing him down as he heads for the basket, leaving that move to the other team and allowing it for his team mates. Or even, as in horse racing, strap weights around his arms to make the contest more equal.