Economic analysis of aspects of the sports industry e.g.,
incentives that influence actions of players, teams, leagues,
and governments; economic impact of teams and special events;
analytic tools for the sports industry.
Athena Title
Economic Analysis of Sport
Prerequisite
ECON 2105 or ECON 2105H or ECON 2105E or ECON 2106 or ECON 2106H or ECON 2106E
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
Students will be able to critically evaluate decisions made by teams, leagues, and players using microeconomic reasoning and evidence.
Students will be able to assess the social and economic impacts of public investments in sports—such as stadium subsidies and major sporting events—on taxpayers, communities, and local economies.
Students will be able to evaluate fairness and equity within sports labor markets and league structures.
Students will be able to analyze and interpret data on sports markets—such as attendance, ticket prices, wages, and team performance—to develop evidence-based insights about market behavior.
Topical Outline
Review of economic tools: opportunity cost, supply and demand, elasticity, profit maximization, prisoners' dilemma
Objectives of team owners
Structure and purpose of a sports league
Ticket pricing, television, and other revenue sources
Competitive balance as a goal and a justification
Team/league relations with players/union: history and recent disputes
Market for player labor and player salaries
Discrimination in sports
Economic impact of teams and special events
Public financing of sports stadiums
College sports: why the connection, current issues
Analytics: roster construction and game decisions
Data revolution
Recent research on incentives, decision making, dishonesty, discrimination, etc.
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Social Awareness & Responsibility
The capacity to understand the interdependence of people, communities, and self in a global society.
