Comparative Economics of Sport

In the last twenty years professional sport has grown into a business of some substance and has attracted increasing attention from investors, lawyers, governments and regulators. Commercial and cultural disputes have required an increasingly sophisticated economic analysis, and over this period Stefan Szymanski has been one of the leading contributors, shaping the research agenda and public policy analysis. This volume is mainly concerned with international comparisons. There are papers which compare the economic structure of major league sports in the North America (baseball, American football, basketball and hockey) with the European approach to football and other sports. Competitive balance concerns are addressed and the potential of revenue sharing mechanisms to deal with these problems is analysed in detail. Broadcasting policy in the Europe and the US is contrasted, while this volume also contains an important contribution to the analysis of the problems in world cricket. Given the important role that sports play in the life of modern societies, this book is popular reading for all interested in economics and sports studies, and will provide an invaluable guide to students and practitioners alike.