South Africa Forecast: Not So Rich, but Happier?

New economic research from Georgios Kavetsosa and Stefan Szymanski indicates that international sporting events bring few economic benefits to the host countries. Hosting an international football event does, however, seem to improve national wellbeing (the “feelgood” factor). The BPS Research Digest blog reports that the games are associated with big happiness boosts: “three times the size of the happiness boost associated with gaining a higher education; one and half times the happiness boost associated with getting married; and nearly large enough to offset the misery triggered by divorce.” The effect, unfortunately, lasts less than a year.[%comments]