The economization of the most popular sport, football, and sports in general is progressing relentlessly. Football is increasingly seen as a product and thus as a significant economic factor. Real Madrid is consistently referred to as a global brand, while VfL Bochum is perceived as the most important image bearer of its hometown. Many football clubs have now spun off their licensed player departments into corporations that operate in the tension between sporting and economic objectives.

The authors of this volume address the economically relevant questions surrounding football. Following the idea of an integrated economic science that encompasses both microeconomics and macroeconomics, the contributions range from the economic fundamentals of team sports like football to its macroeconomic, legal, and financial implications, as well as the production and sales processes in the institutions involved in professional football.