Understanding the Economic and Governance Dimensions of Sports – ICSS-CID Research Report  

From stadiums to ski resorts, policymakers often praise the economic benefits that sports-related activities allegedly bring to their surrounding economies. Despite such rhetoric, discussion of any economic benefits emanating from the sports economy is premature without a better understanding of the industry itself. Policymakers and analysts frequently interpret the sports economy differently, rendering comparisons across time and place difficult. This sort of disagreement is often the result of poor data collection and standardization. If policymakers had access to better data on the industry, they could better understand the relationship between sports and the broader economy. Better data allows observers to more accurately assess how the presence or absence of sports-related activities could shape their economy. More accurate assessments could, in turn, craft better policymaking with respect to the sports sector.

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