Victor Matheson, professor of economics at the College of the Holy Cross, was recently interviewed for the "Freakonomics Radio" podcast, as part of its new series dubbed "The Hidden Side of Sports." The weekly podcast, a spin-off of the 2005 New York Times bestseller "Freakonomics," airs on public-radio stations across the country, as well as SiriusXM, and is one of iTunes' most popular podcasts.
During the interview, Matheson, a sports economist who specializes in "mega-sporting events," told journalist Stephen Dubner, that although the sports industry is relatively small, it holds a lot of weight with enthusiasts.
The spectator sports in the United States are roughly the same size as the cardboard box industry according to Matheson, but the social impact of sports is "way, way bigger than the economic impact." "Now obviously none of us gather around the water cooler on Monday morning saying, 'Hey man, did you see that awesome cardboard box that American Paper just put out?' Of course we don’t," said Matheson.
To listen to the podcast episodes in their entirety, go to Freakonomics.com.
Matheson is a frequent source for national media on a wide range of economic topics, particularly the business side of sports. Read more coverage below.
What's the Difference Between the Sports and Cardboard Box Industries? Holy Cross Professor Explains
'Freakonomics Radio' Podcast
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