36-340, ECONOMICS of Sports SYLLABUS FOR Spring 2015
INSTRUCTOR: Lee J. Van Scyoc OFFICE: CF 324
OFFICE PHONE: 424-7153
OFFICE HOURS: 11:30-12:30 MWF and by appointment
REQUIRED: Sports Economics by Roger D. Blair
Course objective: Many students follow professional and intercollegiate athletics, but are unaware of the role that economics plays in the games they watch. In this class, students will apply basic microeconomic principles to the world of professional and intercollegiate sports. By the end of the semester, students will demonstrate how perfect and imperfect competition determine franchise revenues, player salaries, and competitive balance, explain how collective bargaining theory applies to professional athletics, evaluate public policy as it relates to publicly-financed stadiums and franchise subsidies, and disentangle the myths and realities of intercollegiate athletics.
Although an interest in sports will enhance your experience in this class, this is primarily an economics class.
Tentative Schedule:
Week of Chapter Topic
Feb 2 1-2 Introduction
Feb 9 2-3 Business of Sports
Feb 16 4 Competitive Balance
Feb 23 5-6 Pricing/Advertising
Mar 2 6-7 Broadcasting Exam 1
Mar 9 9 Antitrust
Mar 16 14 Sports Franchises
Mar 30 15-16 Economics of Sports Events
Apr 6 17,19 Labor Relation in Sports
Apr 13 EXAM II
Apr 20 20-21 Labor Relation in Sports
Apr 27 22-23 Labor
