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Sports Clubs and Populism: Quasi-Experimental Evidence from German Cities

Author

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  • Mona Foertsch
  • Felix Roesel

Abstract

Does social capital always promote solidarity and democracy, or are social networks such as sports clubs also vulnerable to populism? We exploit quasi-experimental variation in sports club membership in German cities. Sports clubs are booming in cities with successful soccer teams which pass the promotion threshold for a higher division, but not where teams marginally missed on promotion. Difference-in-differences estimations show that far-right populists enjoy more support in cities with higher sports club membership rates in the wake of marginally promoted soccer teams. The populist momentum is however rather short-living, indicating that sports clubs intensify group polarization but are not a spot of permanent radicalization.

Suggested Citation

  • Mona Foertsch & Felix Roesel, 2023. "Sports Clubs and Populism: Quasi-Experimental Evidence from German Cities," CESifo Working Paper Series 10259, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_10259
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    social capital; sports clubs; populism; Gemany;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D71 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Social Choice; Clubs; Committees; Associations
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • Z20 - Other Special Topics - - Sports Economics - - - General

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