Including an array of distinguished contributors, this novel book fills a gap in the literature by addressing an important yet under researched issue in the field of sports economics. It places great emphasis on the notion that sport is a significant component for improving the happiness, health and well being of citizens, communities and society as a whole. In so doing, it addresses whether, in an environment of increasing pressure on public spending, governments should continue to subsidise sporting activities at the expense of other public resources. Written is a clear and accessible style, this pioneering book explores a number of specific issues including: the relationship between sport and happiness the effect of sport on health, including the capacity of sport and exercise to reduce spending on medical expenses the relationship between sport and productivity whether sport as a leisure activity can improve quality of life. Innovative and original, this volume will strongly appeal to students and researchers of sport, health and welfare economics.

Economists have entered into the realm of sports to provide what they believe to be more cogent explanations for sport-related behaviour and to suggest ways in which incentives can improve sports outcomes. But prices and income, the traditional workhorses of conventional economics, can only provide partial explanations and understandings. Drawing on a bounded rationality approach to behavioural economics, this book demonstrates the analytical insights to be gained by supplementing the conventional economics toolbox with psychological, cognitive, sociological, and institutional factors. The international cast list of contributors cover a wide range of sports topics on which a behavioural approach can reveal new insights. These include preferences, managerial, efficiency, choking, doping, favouritism, athlete well- being, and spectator behaviour. Throughout the book, there is an emphasis on the cognitive limits to smart decision-making as well as the critical role played by the decision-making environment. This volume demonstrates that adopting a bounded rationality approach, complimented with other behaviouralist approaches, helps to better explain sport-related behavioural, sub-optimal behavioural, and market failures. It also provides insights that could be used to improve sports outcomes and the well-being of those involved in sports and to better configure policy to enhance sports performance. This groundbreaking book will be an indispensable reference to students and scholars of sports economics, sports management, and sports science.

This book cuts through the jargon and complicated formulae to focus on the key concepts in sports economics, introducing the fundamentals in a concise and engaging way to give the reader without a background in economics the tools with which to read and apply sports economics in their work. Full of real-world cases and stories, the book offers a short economic history of sport and explains the economic foundations of the world of sport today, from local leagues to mega-events. Covering both amateur and professional sports, it explores and explains the most important issues in contemporary sports economics, from player transfer markets and the rise of women’s sports to the spending behaviour of fans and the growing shadow of corruption. A fascinating read for any student, researcher or practitioner working in sport, or for the general reader who wants to understand the background to many of the most important stories in sport today, this is the only book on sports economics that you will ever need.

Sports economics is a well-established and dynamic area of study; a key component in the fields of sport management, sport science and sport studies, as well as in other areas of economics, finance and management. Covering amateur to professional sports, individual events and organised tournaments, this Handbook provides an authoritative contribution to the understanding of sport in the economy. The editors of The SAGE Handbook of Sports Economics have brought together a global team of respected scholars to create this benchmark collection of insights into sports economics. Each chapter includes a study of a specific context in which issues arise in sports economics, a critical presentation of its main theoretical contributions, an overview of current research findings, and an outline of enquiry for future research. PART I: The Nature and Value of the Sports System and Economy PART II: Amateur Sports Participation, Supply and Impact PART III: Professional Team Sports PART IV: Professional Sports Leagues PART V: Sports Events and their Impacts PART VI: Individual Sports PART VII: Future Research

This unique book delves into a number of intriguing issues and addresses several pertinent questions including, should gambling markets be privatized? Is the ‘hot hand’ hypothesis real or a myth? Are the ‘many’ smarter than the ‘few’ in estimating betting odds? How are prices set in fixed odds betting markets? The book also explores the informational efficiency of betting markets and the prevalence of corruption and illegal betting in sports.

Statistics in Social Science encompasses studies on population dynamics, education and social well-being. The chapters are arranged to enable readers to quickly identify their interests while looking beyond the sub-themes and exploring how these studies will impact society, industry, or policymakers. In the past few decades, Malaysia has undergone rapid industrialisation and urbanisation. These changes have brought forward many social and educational issues that need to be addressed by the authorities and communities. In addition to raising awareness of societal issues, this book provides various statistical methods to investigate them. Readers will be able to learn and appreciate the application of such techniques in their respective fields. In the first part, this book explores issues like life satisfaction of ageing populations, world population growth and distribution, population redistribution and urbanisation in Malaysia. In the second part, the book examines the issues of the rural-urban gap and gender differences in Mathematics and Science achievement, gender differences in education and work among young Malaysians, the employability model of science graduates, and the relationship between physical activity and happiness are explored. Undoubtedly, some issues raised cannot be solved in the short run, for example, the achievement of learning Mathematics and Science. However, policy intervention is needed to increase the effectiveness of learning these two subjects in school. Thus, Malaysia can continue to boost its long-term competitiveness and move in its trajectory to achieve the vision of advanced civil society (Malaysia Madani).

'We can reach far more people through sport than we can through political or educational programmes. In that way, sport is more powerful than politics. We have only just started to use its potential to build up this country. We must continue to do so.' – Nelson Mandela Nelson Mandela's statement reflects a widely held view that sport can contribute in unique and far-reaching ways to the delivery of important social outcomes. But is this really the case? Can sport bring people from different backgrounds together, and in so doing act as a force for social transformation and change? In the language of policymakers and practitioners, can sport contribute to social inclusion or could it be argued that sport acts to marginalize and disadvantage some groups in society? In other words could sport reinforce, rather than challenge, social inequality? Focusing on youth sport as a touchstone sector of sport in society, this book examines the theoretical and empirical bases of arguments for the role of sport in social inclusion agendas. Authors are drawn from around the world and offer critical perspectives on assumptions underpinning the bold claims made about the power of sport. This book represents the most up-to-date and authoritative source of knowledge on inclusion and exclusion in youth sport. As such, it is essential reading for those who want to use sport to 'make a difference' in young people's lives. It is, therefore, recommended for students, researchers, policy makers and practitioners working in sports development, sports coaching, sport studies or physical education.