Description
Book SynopsisSports Economics focuses primarily on the business and economics aspects of major professional sports and the NCAA. It employs the basic principles of economics to address issues such as the organization of leagues, pricing, advertising and broadcasting as well as the labor market in sports.
Trade Review'Sports Economics is an invaluable text that uses rigorous microeconomic analysis to explain a host of sports topics, ranging from antitrust and arbitration to profits and point shaving.' Charles L. Clotfelter, Duke University, and author, Big-Time Sports in American Universities (2011)
'In Sports Economics Roger Blair provides comprehensive coverage of the key issues in the economics of sports, and then some. This book goes beyond the typical issues covered in sports economics textbooks as it considers such topics as gambling, cheating, player misconduct and performance-enhancing drugs. It also has an extensive treatment of legal issues that arise in sports markets, an area of research to which Blair has been a major contributor. This book will clearly become a standard text for sports economics courses.' Leo H. Kahane, Providence College, and Co-Founder and Editor, Journal of Sports Economics
'This is the most comprehensive explication of sports economics for the lay reader to date. An excellent read for the avid well-educated sports fan, text for a introductory class, and research tool to cite for basic propositions and for its compilation of sources.' Stephen Ross, Pennsylvania State University
'For a thorough tour of the economics of sports, no one has done it better than [Professor] Blair. For both economists and students alike, this book covers all of the bases and hits the ball out of the park.' Harold L. Vogel, author, Entertainment Industry Economics, 8th Edition (2011)
'Roger Blair does a great job of applying microeconomic principles to the sports industry. This book will help students better understand both the sports world and economics because of its clear explanation of sophisticated concepts.' Jason Winfree, University of Michigan
Table of ContentsPart I. Introduction: 1. Introduction to sports economics; Part II. The Sports Business: 2. The business of sports; 3. Sports leagues and organizations; 4. Competitive balance; 5. Pricing decisions; 6. Advertising in the sports industry; 7. The market for sports broadcasting rights; 8. Insuring player talent; 9. Sports leagues and antitrust policy; Part III. Image and Integrity: 10. Sports gambling; 11. Cheating in sports; 12. Misconduct and discipline; 13. Steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs; Part IV. Facilities, Franchises, and Public Policy: 14. Competition for sports franchises and events; 15. Economic impact of sports events; 16. Financing sports facilities; Part V. Sports Labor Market: 17. Salary determination: competition and monopsony; 18. The NCAA as a collusive monopsony; 19. Salary determination: bidding and bargaining; 20. Economic value of multi-year contracts; 21. Final offer arbitration in major league baseball; 22. Players' unions and collective bargaining; 23. The role of sports agents; 24. Should an athlete turn pro 'early'?; 25. Discrimination in sports.
