Your objective is to write an advisory report to the Department of Digital Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) that investigates the balance between the efficacy of intervention from public policy makers or from governance agencies within sport sectors, compared to the market in the provision of sport.

The report can be structured as you like within the following constraints:

  • The report should include an executive summary of 100 words at the beginning of the report that could be read independently to get an overview of the main findings of the report.
  • An introduction and conclusion of 100 words each.
  • The following sections should be in the main body of the report with approximate word lengths added in brackets.
    • A statement of why markets are considered to be efficient by economists and why they might fail leading to a rationale for intervention by public policy makers or from governance agencies within sport (200 words).
    • An evaluation of the role and effectiveness of intervention in sport in any one of the following contexts 1 to 4:
      • Sports participation
      • Financial fairplay
      • Sports labour markets – focussing only on one of:

Players

Managers/coaches

Match officials

  • Major sports events – focussing only on one of:

Economic impact

Non-use values

The impact on participation

In this section you should outline the market failure that intervention is meant to address and use relevant theory and evidence to reach your conclusion. Use relevant diagrams to demonstrate your understanding of economic theory. You can hand draw diagrams and insert them as images if this is easier (1000 words).

  • The report can be single or double line spaced in a professional font of your choice but of font size 12.
  • Has referencing following Harvard or APA 7.

The 1500 word limit applies to all words in the summary, introduction and conclusion, main report including commentary on any graphs, figures etc.  It DOES NOT include references and any graphs/charts.  

Marks will be allocated based on the following criteria and according to the assignment rubric on Learn:

1.     Knowledge/Understanding (30%)

2.     Critical Thinking/Analysis (30%):

3.     Reading/Research (20%):

4.     Presentation/Communication (20%):

Requirement Analysis

The task at hand is to construct an advisory report for the Department of Digital Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), with a focus on the strategic intersection of sports marketing and economics. This assignment falls under the academic module 23PSC772 – Strategic Sport Marketing and Economics, pertinent to the School of Sport & Exercise Sciences, for the academic year 2023/2024.

Key elements of this assignment include:

Objective: The report aims to investigate the balance between public policy interventions or governance agencies’ roles versus market forces in the sports sector.

Structure and Content Requirements:

    • An executive summary (100 words), offering a standalone overview.
    • Introduction and conclusion sections (100 words each).
    • A main body comprising:
      • A discussion on market efficiency and potential failures, leading to a rationale for interventions (200 words).
      • An evaluation of intervention effectiveness in selected areas of sports, including sports participation, financial fair play, sports labour markets (with a focus on players, managers/coaches, or match officials), or major sports events (with a focus on economic impact, non-use values, or impact on participation). This segment should be evidence-backed, applying relevant economic theories and diagrams (1000 words).

    Presentation Guidelines:

      • Formatting with professional font and size.
      • Harvard or APA 7 referencing style.
      • Exclusion of references and graphs/charts from the word count.

      Assessment Criteria:

        • Knowledge/Understanding (30%)
        • Critical Thinking/Analysis (30%)
        • Reading/Research (20%)
        • Presentation/Communication (20%)

        This assignment is argumentative and analytical in nature, requiring a comprehensive understanding of economic principles applied to the sports sector. The academic level necessitates a balance of theoretical knowledge and practical application, drawing on economic theories, sports economics, and policy analysis.

        Key Knowledge Points

        To effectively address the assignment, one must be versed in several key knowledge areas:

        1. Economic Efficiency and Market Failure Theories: Understanding concepts like Pareto efficiency, consumer and producer surplus, and the conditions under which markets may fail.
        2. Public Policy Interventions: Familiarity with the role of public policies in correcting market failures, including the application of subsidies, taxes, regulations, and public goods provision.
        3. Governance in Sports: Insights into how sports governance agencies influence the sports market through regulations, policies, and interventions.
        4. Sports Economics Contexts: Specific knowledge pertaining to the chosen area of focus – whether it’s sports participation, financial fairplay, labour markets in sports, or the economic impact of major sports events. This includes understanding the unique economic dynamics in these areas.
        5. Economic Theory Application: Ability to apply economic theories and concepts to real-world situations in sports, backed by relevant data and research.

        Difficulties and Mistakes

        Common challenges in tackling such an assignment include:

        1. Balancing Theoretical and Practical Elements: Students often struggle to apply economic theories to the specific context of sports effectively.
        2. Overlooking Key Aspects of Sports Economics: Ignoring crucial elements like the unique characteristics of sports labour markets or the economic impact of major events can lead to a superficial analysis.
        3. Inadequate Critical Analysis: Merely describing the role of public policy or governance without critically analyzing their effectiveness or implications is a frequent oversight.

        Essay Structure

        The essay should be structured as follows:

        Executive Summary (100 words):

        • Provide a succinct overview of the report’s main findings.

        Introduction (100 words):

        • Introduce the topic and its significance.

        Market Efficiency and Failures (200 words):

        • Discuss why markets are considered efficient and circumstances leading to market failure.

        Evaluation of Intervention in Sports (1000 words):

        • Introduction to the selected context.
        • Outline the market failure.
        • Application of relevant theory and evidence.
        • Conclusion summarizing the findings.

        Conclusion (100 words):

        • Summarize the main points and the implications of the findings.

        Writing Tips and Best Practices

        • Thesis Statement: Craft a clear and concise thesis that encapsulates the report’s central argument.
        • Developing Arguments: Ensure arguments are logically structured, well-supported by evidence, and directly relate to the thesis.
        • Using Evidence: Incorporate data, theories, and research to substantiate arguments.
        • Clarity and Coherence: Maintain clarity in language and coherence in argument flow.
        • Conciseness: Be succinct yet comprehensive in presenting ideas.