Football Economics and Policy

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 concerns the application of economic analysis to football (soccer), the world's most popular sport. It provides a framework for understanding how the football business works and addresses major policy concerns such as the frequent financial crises, the financing of major events such as the World Cup, the consequences of public intervention in labour markets (Bosman) and broadcast markets (collective selling) and reviews the role of public policy. 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.