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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2005

Economics

Economics Department Working Papers

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Sports economics

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Striking Out? The Economic Impact Of Major League Baseball Work Stoppages On Host, Victor Matheson, Robert Baade Apr 2005

Striking Out? The Economic Impact Of Major League Baseball Work Stoppages On Host, Victor Matheson, Robert Baade

Economics Department Working Papers

Major League Baseball teams have used the lure of economic riches as an incentive for cities to construct new stadiums at considerable public expense. Estimates of the economic impact of a MLB on host communities have typically been in the vicinity of $300 million. Our analysis suggest these numbers are wildly inflated. Using the baseball strikes of 1981, 1994, and 1995 as test cases, we find the net economic impact for a MLB team on a host city of $16.2 million under one model and $132.3 million under a second model.


Research Note: Athletic Graduation Rates And Simpson’S Paradox, Victor Matheson Mar 2005

Research Note: Athletic Graduation Rates And Simpson’S Paradox, Victor Matheson

Economics Department Working Papers

Graduation rates for male athletes overall as well as men’s football and basketball players lag behind those of male non-athletes at Division I colleges and universities. Scholarship athletes, however, are much more likely to be drawn from racial and ethnic groups with lower average graduation rates. After accounting for differences in racial composition, graduation rates for male athletes overall as well football players match or exceed those of their peers, and racial differences account for over one-quarter of the shortfall in men’s basketball graduation rates. This is a classic example of Simpson’s Paradox.