The bidding paradox: why economists, consultants and politicians disagree on the economic effects of mega sports events but might agree on their attractiveness

Marcel van den Berg and Michiel De Nooij

No 13-08, Working Papers from Utrecht School of Economics

Abstract: The ambition to host mega sports events is (or can be) perfectly justifiable with various arguments. The most persistently used argument is the supposed financial or direct economic gain for the host economy, of which the compelling body of evidence is discouraging. This implies that the justification for hosting should come from a different, broader economic angle. This paper provides a critical discussion of the myriad of economic and frequently intangible effects that could be put forward in the public debate preceding the submission of a bid. Paradoxically, most of these effects are not, or infrequently employed in public debates.

Keywords: Bidding; mega sport events; Olympic games; economics; fun and pride (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hap, nep-pol, nep-ppm, nep-spo and nep-tur
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