Economics of Sports Archives

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Economics of Sports

Many students (and teachers) are huge sports fans and illustrating economic concepts using real-world examples from the world of professional sports engages students in a way that abstract models cannot. Professional sports offers many opportunities to teach fundamental economic concepts such as supply and demand, incentives, comparative advantage, and many more. This collection of lessons will give you fresh ideas for teaching beyond the textbook.

Grades 9-12

That's the Ticket: The Economics of Ticket Scalping

In this economics lesson, students will apply supply and demand to learn about price ceilings in the ticket market.

Key Concepts: Markets and Prices, Price Ceilings and Floors

30 mins

Lesson

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Grades 9-12

Sports Economics: To Build or Not to Build

In this economics lesson, students will examine a public-private partnership to learn about opportunity cost.

Key Concepts: Opportunity Cost, Roles of Government, Taxes

60 mins

Lesson

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Grades 6-8

The Trading Game: Should LeBron James Mow His Own Lawn?

In this economics lesson, students will play a trading game to learn about voluntary trade.

Key Concepts: Benefits of Trade, Comparative Advantage, Trade, Exchange and Interdependence

45 mins

Lesson

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Grades 9-12

Sports Economics: Worshipping at the Altars of Adi, Phil and Kevin

Essential Question: How do entrepreneurship, competition, and specialization benefit consumers of athletic footwear and apparel? In order to gain a...

Key Concepts: Entrepreneurs, Specialization, Trade, Exchange and Interdependence

Lesson

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Grades 6-8, 9-12

Sports Economics: The Mystery of the 2,333,232% Pay Raise

Students will use the "Handy Dandy Guide to Economic Thinking" to solve an economic mystery. Yasiel Puig left his home...

Key Concepts: Economic Systems, Incentive

Lesson

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Grades 9-12

The Economics of Pro Sports: Why are the Cowboys and Yankees so Valuable?

This lesson investigates the value of sports franchises in the various professional sports leagues. Students will investigate the revenues and...

Key Concepts: Credit, Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis, Incentive…

Lesson

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Grades 9-12

Why does Eli Manning Make $24 million per year?

What determines a person's salary? Why do professional athletes make so much money? People who work as firefighters, police officers...

Key Concepts: Budgeting, Demand, Distribution of Income…

Lesson

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Grades 9-12

$16 Billion to Host the Summer Olympic Games: Is it worth it?

Students learn about costs and revenues related to the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. Discussion questions about estimated...

Key Concepts: Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis, Public-Choice Analysis, Roles of Government

Lesson

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Grades 9-12

Curriculum Tackles Economics Through the Lens of Sports

This NY1 segment features Jonathan Joseph, an economics teacher at White Plains High School (NY) and recipient of the Alfred...

Key Concepts: Demand, Markets and Prices, Roles of Government

Video

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Grades 9-12

Should the NCAA Pay College Athletes?

PBS Economics correspondent Paul Solman examines the cases for and against paying student athletes. He interviews Ed O'Bannon, the former...

Key Concepts: Division of Labor/Specialization, Producers

Video

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Where the Bailout Money Comes From

Paul Solman explains how the government will produce the money to fund its economic-rescue measures while trying to keep inflation...

Key Concepts: Economic Institutions, Fiscal Policy, Money

Video

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Lesson

Video

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