Attention Economy


Monday, July 31, 2023

Money and Sports

The Economic Case for Taxing Star Athletes
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/31/opinion/athletes-pay-tax-mbappe.html
The perennial question is why these athletes are being paid so much more than doctors, scientists and architects, let alone nurses, schoolteachers and firefighters. Some people who think athletes are overpaid will insist that only a sick society would give more money to people playing sports than people saving lives or performing other essential functions.
Economists have a familiar explanation: supply and demand. The supply of star athletes is extremely limited, so they can demand a high price for their (nonessential) services.

Don’t obsess about football selling its soul to Saudi Arabia. It sold itself to big money long ago
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/aug/02/football-saudi-arabia-big-money-cristiano-ronaldo


Related:
How ESPN Went from Disney’s Financial Engine to Its Problem
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/02/business/media/espn-disney.html
The sports juggernaut continues to earn billions of dollars for Disney, but profits are down and opportunities for growth have dwindled.