Journals / Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi / 2026 / Volume: 15 Issue: 3

The Relationship Between Public Spending and Employment in the Sports Sector

Bülent Demir(İSTANBUL KENT ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-9451-1842
Ali Serdar Yücel(FIRAT ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-4543-4123
Nahit Özdayı(BALIKESİR ÜNİVERSİTESİ, SPOR BİLİMLERİ FAKÜLTESİ, ANTRENÖRLÜK EĞİTİMİ BÖLÜMÜ)0000-0002-5534-3153
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-10-08
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

This finding does not suggest that the three-year period represents a causal or singular implementation period.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Objective: This study examines the relationship between public funds allocated to sports and recreation and employment in the sports sector across the EU-27 countries.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Materials and Methods: A balanced panel dataset covering the 27 countries for the 2011–2024 period was used; 378 country-year observations were analyzed over the 14-year period.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:This finding does not suggest that the three-year period represents a causal or singular implementation period.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:2011–2024 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Sports Economy · Public Expenditures · Employment in Sports

Abstract

Objective: This study examines the relationship between public funds allocated to sports and recreation and employment in the sports sector across the EU-27 countries. Materials and Methods: A balanced panel dataset covering the 27 countries for the 2011–2024 period was used; 378 country-year observations were analyzed over the 14-year period. Results: Although the coefficient for same-year expenditures is positive, it is not statistically significant. In the three-year lagged model, the relationship is positive and significant at the 1% level. No significant interaction effect was found for income group. The unemployment rate is negative and strongly significant in all models. Conclusion: No significant relationship was found between public sports and recreation expenditures and sports employment for the same year. The fact that the coefficient with a three-year lag is positive and significant indicates a medium-term relationship. This finding does not suggest that the three-year period represents a causal or singular implementation period.

🔖

Cite This Article

Korkmaz, M., Demir, B., Gümüşdağ, H., Yücel, A. S., Özdayı, N. (2026). The Relationship Between Public Spending and Employment in the Sports Sector. Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, Volume: 15 Issue: 3. https://doi.org/10.53424/balikesirsbd.1985770

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (45)

  1. Abiad, A., Furceri, D., & Topalova, P. (2016). The macroeconomic effects of public investment: Evidence from advanced economies. Journal of Macroeconomics, 50, 224–240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmacro.2016.07.005
  2. Agha, N. (2025). Economic impact, fiscal loss, and redistribution of wealth in sport events. Journal of Sport Management, 39(1), 45–58. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.2025-0112
  3. Alma Savaş, D. (2024). Sports Product Market Dynamics in Europe: Consumption and Production Insights. Sport Economics Research, 1, 39-58. https://doi.org/10.71125/sporteconres.8.
  4. Atılgan, D., & Tükel, Y. (2020). Examination of personal ınnovativeness percep-tions and work engagement behaviors of sports ınstructors. InternationalJournal of Applied Exercise Physiology, 9(9), 90-104.
  5. Barbu, M., Bogdan, B. G., Roxana, D. & Popescu, M. C. (2020). The Contribution of Sport to Economic and Social Development. Studia Universitatis Babeş-Bolyai Educatio Artis Gymnasticae, 65(1), 27-38. https://doi.org/10.24193/subbeag.65(1).03
  6. Bartoluci, M. & Škorić, S. (2009). Menadžment u sportu. (Management in sport). Zagreb: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb. In Croatian
  7. Begović, M. (2025). Specificity of Employment Relations in Sports: Lessons from the National Context. Entertainment and Sports Law Journal, 23(1), 2, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.16997/eslj.1761
  8. Commission of the European Communities (2007, 11 July). White Paper on Sport, Brussels, COM(2007)391 final: 10. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52007DC0391
  9. Digennaro, S., & Tescione, A. (2023). Age-ınclusıve employment ın the sports sector: explorıng barrıers, best practıces, recommendatıons, and workforce statıstıcs. https://www.easesport.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/study-on-the-barriers-to-a-more-inclusive-workforce-in-the-sport-sector-in-terms-of-age-v2.pdf
  10. Dudfield, O. (2014). Strengthening sport for development and peace, national policies and strategies, 23. London: Commonwealth Secretariat. https://www.sportanddev.org/sites/default/files/downloads/strengthening_sport_for_development_and_peace.pdf
  11. EHFMR. (2018). Europan health and fintness market report. https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/de/- Docu-ments/consumerbusiness/European%20Health%20and- %20-Fitness%20Report-_2018_extract.pdf
  12. Eurostat. (2021, September 27). Employment in sport. Statistics Explained. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statisticsexplained/
  13. Eurostat. (2024). Employment in sport – statistics report. Publications Office of the European Union. Eurostat. (2022, 23 September). Employment in sport in the EU. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/edn-20220923-1
  14. Eurostat. (2024, 26 July). 1.55 million people employed in sport in 2023. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20240726-2
  15. Eurostat. (2019, 26 November). Employment in sport in the EU. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/ddn-20191126-1
  16. Eurostat. (2021, 27 September). Employment in sport in the EU. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/edn-20210927-1
  17. Eurostat. (2023, 28 July). 10.9% increase in employment in sport in 2022 in the EU. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20230728-1
  18. Eurostat. (2025, May). Employment in sport. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Employment_in_sport
  19. Europorter. (2014, 19 June). Sport as a growth engine for EU economy. https://www.eureporter.co/frontpage/2014/06/19/sport-as-a-growth-engine-for-eu-economy/
  20. Florea, D. L., Barbu, C. M., & Barbu, M. C. R. (2018). A model of fans' reaction to resurrected brands of sport organisations. International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, 19(2), 127-146.
  21. Hadian, H., Razavi, S. M. H., Boroumand, M. R., & Amirnejad, S. (2020). Strategies for Developing Economy of Iran’s Sports Industry. Annals of Applied Sport Science, 8(4).
  22. Halaskova, M., Halaskova, R., Gavurova, B., & Friedrich, V. (2024). Assessment of selected areas of sport in EU countries. Economics and Sociology, 17(4), 176-196. https://doi.org/10.14254/2071-789X.2024/17-4/10
  23. Humphreys, B. R., & Ruseski, J. E. (2007). Participation in physical activity and government spending on parks and recreation. Contemp. Econ. Policy, 25(4), 538–552.
  24. Jiang, C. H., & Liang, F. (2014). Research on the sports economy effection in national economic development. Applied Mechanics and Materials (Vol. 556, pp. 6519-6521). Trans Tech Publications Ltd.
  25. Korkmaz, M. (2025). Türkiye’de İşgücü İstatistiklerinin Ekonomik Performansa Etkisi [Yüksek Lisans Tezi]. İstanbul Kent Üniversitesi, Lisansüstü Eğitim Enstitüsü, İstanbul.
  26. Kutluay Tutar, F., & Abukalloub, A. (2025). The role of the sports sector in regional economic development. ASES International Journal of Economy, 3(1), 163–175. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15714685
  27. Leduc, S., & Wilson, D. W. (2013). Roads to Prosperity or Bridges to Nowhere? Theory and Evidence on the Impact of Public Infrastructure Investment. NBER Macroeconomics Annual, 27(1), 89–142. https://doi.org/10.1086/669173
  28. Li, S., Macauley, B., & Wicker, P. (2021). Assessing the economic contribution of sport through CGE models: A systematic review. Journal of Sports Economics, 22(8), 915–934
  29. Lu, L., & Wei, W. (2022). Contradiction between Supply and Demand of Public Sports Services and Coping Strategies Based on the Genetic Algorithm. Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience, 1227981. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/122798
  30. Ma, X.Y., Cui, H.C., & Tang, K.J. (2021). Supply-Side Reform Measures of Public Sports Service From the Perspective of Public Health Promotion. Revista Brasileira De Medicina Do Esporte, 27(Special Issue), 53-55. https://doi.org/10.1590/1517-8692202127012020_0101
  31. Mumcu, H. E., Karakullukçu, Ö. F., & Karakuş, M. (2019). Youth Employment in The Sports Sector. OPUS International Journal of Society Researches, 11(18), 2649-2665. https://doi.org/10.26466/opus.535301
  32. Nazarov, V., Kalantarly, N., Hajiyev, J., Hasanova, G., & Hashimova, A. (2023). Influence of general government expenditure on the development of sports entrepreneurship: The case of some OECD countries. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 21(2), 336-346. https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.21(2).2023.33
  33. Nestorović, M. (2025). The economic dimension of sport in the contemporary system of managing sports organizations. Management in Sport, 16(2), 89–104.
  34. Nestorović, M., Trifunović, D., Joksimović, M., & Veselinović, J. (2025). The economic dimension of sport in the contemporary system of managing sports organizations. Scientific Journal Management in Sports, 16(XVI, issue II), 115–155. https://doi.org/10.46793/ManagSport16-2.115N
  35. Rahmani, N., Naderi Nasab, M., Taheri, M., & Biniaz, S. A. (2024). Exploring the Future of the Sports Industry Through an Economic Lens in 2031. International Journal of Innovation Management and Organizational Behavior, 4(1), 170-179. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.ijimob.4.1.20
  36. Reis, N. S., Húngaro, V., Magalhâes, Y. C. D. S., & Mascarenhas, F. (2020). Knowledge production on sport economics: A systematic review. Journal of Physical Education, 31, e3129. https://doi.org/10.4025/jphyseduc.v31i1.3129
  37. Rezaie, S., & Salehipour, M. (2018). Analysis of Effective Factors in Development of Iran Sport Industry using Grounded Theory Approach. Human Resource Management in Sports, 6(1), 89-107. https://doi.org/10.22044/shm.2019.7342.1790
  38. Rhodes, M. (2015). Employment policy. Policy-making in the European Union, 293-318. Solntsev, I. V. (2012). The role of the sports industry in economic development, Economic and social changes: facts, trends, forecast, 6, 155-167.
  39. Stroe, C. A., & Barbu, M. (2006). Impactul sportului asupra economiei. Craiova, Editura Universitaria.
  40. Tao, P., & Tao, P. (2025). How Does the Sports Industry Promote Economic Development?. Advances in Economics Management and Political Sciences, 158, 87-92. https://doi.org/10.54254/2754-1169/2025.19777
  41. Vamplew, W. (2023). The Long Economic Thread: Two Millennia of Commercialism and Sport. International Journal of the History of Sport, 40(5), 390-414. https://doi.org/10.1080/09523367.2023.2207472
  42. Wang, D., Zhang, E., Qiu, Peng., & Hong, X. (2022). Does increasing public expenditure on sports promote regional sustainable development: Evidence from China. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, Article 958341. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.958341
  43. Wisniewski, A. (2020). Competitiveness of sports market enterprises: determinants, classification, challenges. Ekonomia i Prawo-Economics and Law, 19(2), 367-377. https://doi.org/10.12775/EiP.2020.025
  44. Xiandong, P. (2014). The Role Analysis of Sports Industry in the Future Economic Development of China [J]. Journal of Shandong University of Physical Education, 30(3), 32-35.
  45. Zhou, L., Ke, Z., & Waqas, M. (2023). Beyond the Arena: How sports economics is advancing China's sustainable development goals. Heliyon, 9(7), e18074. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18074