The module aims to improve students’ knowledge and understanding of sports as a growing economic sector that is increasingly attracting the attention of many entrepreneurs and researchers. It will also equip students with relevant analytical techniques and provide the opportunities to apply such techniques to sport so that decision-making within the sector can be scrutinised and improved. A final aim of the module is to increase the curiosity and critical assessment of the different research topics with sport.

(LO1) Students will be able to apply critically economic theories and principles to the organisation, management and practices within sport in a global context

(LO2) Students will be able to assess contemporary issues critically relating to spectator and participant sports and their economic relevance

(LO3) Students will be able to use appropriate and relevant sports data to develop empirical models

(LO4) Students will be able to interpret the results of empirical models and consider critically how this might improve decision-making

(LO5) Students will be able to use economic modelling to assess ethical and social dimension within the decision-making process

(S1) Problem Solver

(S2) Organised and able to work under pressure

(S3) IT literate

(S4) Numerate

(S5) An Excellent Communicator

(S6) Digitally Confident

(S7) Commercially aware

(S8) Confident

Teaching Method: Lecture
Scheduled Directed Student Hours: 24
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method: Seminars
Scheduled Directed Student Hours: 6
Description: These seminars will be a combination of discussion exploring the research and session in computer rooms in which students can be guided through econometric analyses.
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Self-Directed Learning Hours: 120
Description: Students will be expected to engage in self-directed study and activities that will complement the scheduled learning. Such activities will include developing writing skills in reporting econometric results, reading and mastering the relevant literature from peer reviewed sources, gathering data from appropriate sources and critically assessing developments and decision-making within the global sports sector.

Pre-requisites:
Students must have taken either ECON233 or ECON212

Skills and other attributes Mapping:

Skill: Problem Solv er
How is this Developed: The module will develop students’ problem-solving skills by engaging in empirical analysis aimed at improving decision-making in the sports sector.
Mode of Assessment(If applicable): Coursework

Skill: Organised and Able to Work Under Pressure
How is this Developed: Students will be expected to acquire data from a variety of sources and organise these prior to being able to perform any analysis.
Mode of Assessment(If applicable): Coursework

Skill: IT Literate
How is this Developed: Students will make use of appropriate software packages to manage and organise quantitative data.
Mode of Assessment(If applicable): Coursework

Skill: Numerate
How is this Developed: Students will be expected to generate quantitative analysis using appropriate econometric models and statistical test.
Mode of Assessment(If applicable): Coursework

Skill: An Excellent Communicator
How is this Developed: Students will be expected to produce high quality reports and responses to briefs and questions and articulate their ideas effectively.
Mode of Assessment(If applicable): Coursework

Skill: Digitally Confident
How is this Developed: Students will be expected to make good use of information acquired from a range of sources.
Mode of Assessment(If applicable): Coursework

Skill: Commercially Aware
How is this Developed: Students will be expected to explore the commercial impact of various business arguments and analysis.
Mode of Assessment(If applicable): Coursework

Skill: Confident
How is this Developed: Students will be expected to show confident in their analyses and assessments following a confident application of the theory and evaluation of the empirical evidence
Mode of Assessment(If applicable): Coursework

Below is an indicative outline of the syllabus. Although indicative, it provides an insight into the areas that will be covered by the module team.
• What is sports economics? Why to study it?
• Using regression modelling to analysis sport
• Parallels between sport and other industries
• European vs American models of sports leagues
• Economics structure of sports leagues, monopolies and cartels, league entry
• The labour market for professional athletes
• Managerial efficiency in football; impact of new managers on sporting performance
• Economics of sport participation; demand for participant sport
• Consumer demand for spectator sport including men’s and women’s football, horseracing and other professional team sports
• Uncertainty of outcome and competitive balance in sports leagues
• Sports broadcasti ng and television audience demand
• Corruption; sports integrity; impact of corruption on sports
• Economics of major sport events?

The module will allow students to apply economic theory and econometric practices that have been learnt previously in modules at level 2.

The module contents will be very accessible and students will be directed to appropriate textbooks, journals and sources of data. Students are expected to engage with the material and prepare thoroughly prior to attendance at lectures and tutorials.