The Economic Impact and Importance of Sport in the UK

In: International review for the sociology of sport: irss ; a quarterly edited on behalf of the International Sociology of Sport Association (ISSA), Band 22, Heft 3, S. 149-170

Abstract

A coherent methodology is proposed for assessing the economic impact of sport. This impact is estimated for the United Kingdom in 1985. The method of national income accounting is adopted, with an expansion of the conventional sectors to permit the commercial sport and voluntary sectors to be identified explicitly. Estimates are given for sport-related final expenditure, value-added and employment and these are compared with other areas of economic activity in the UK. Certain financial flows between sectors are also identified, including government income and expenditure, and the balance of payments.