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Is there an Economic Case for the Olympic Games?

Author

Listed:
  • Chris Dempsey

    (No Boston Olympics)

  • Victor Matheson

    (Department of Economics and Accounting, College of the Holy CrossAuthor-Name: Victor Matheson)

  • Andrew Zimbalist

    (Department of Economics, Smith College)

Abstract

The Olympic Games are a major undertaking that promise both large costs and potentially large benefits to host cities. This paper lays out the potential economic benefits of hosting the Olympics and details how, in the vast majority of cases, these gains are unlikely to cover the costs of hosting the event. The ideas are then applied to the experience of Boston in its ultimately unsuccessful bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Suggested Citation

  • Chris Dempsey & Victor Matheson & Andrew Zimbalist, 2019. "Is there an Economic Case for the Olympic Games?," Working Papers 1902, College of the Holy Cross, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hcx:wpaper:1902
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://hcapps.holycross.edu/hcs/RePEc/hcx/HC1902-Matheson-Dempsey-Zimbalist_Olympics.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Victor Matheson & Robert Baade, 2016. "Going for the Gold: The Economics of the Olympics," Working Papers 1605, College of the Holy Cross, Department of Economics.
    2. Robert A. Baade & Victor A. Matheson, 2016. "Going for the Gold: The Economics of the Olympics," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 30(2), pages 201-218, Spring.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Olympics; mega-events; impact analysis; Boston; tourism;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Z28 - Other Special Topics - - Sports Economics - - - Policy
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • R53 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Public Facility Location Analysis; Public Investment and Capital Stock

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