Link.
The basic principle is simple, drawn from utilitarian principles: Root for the outcome that will produce the largest aggregate increase in happiness. So I came up with a simple index, calculated by a country’s passion for soccer multiplied by its average level of poverty multiplied by its population. It’s perhaps a bit crude, simply to multiply these factors by each other, but the exercise highlights some important truths about the world.
…I incorporate poverty into the score for several reasons. First, happiness and wealth are correlated, and all else being equal, a utilitarian would prefer to help the person who is worst off. Second, the wealthy have more outlets for dealing with sports disappointments — such as going out to a nice meal — and can bounce back faster.
50 Responses
A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup. (Hint: Nigeria, Brazil, or Mexico) http://t.co/UPdlTpPsW0
A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/AdgnnGWRWa RT @fix_frarent
A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/nQyXAI8hHx
RT @cblatts: A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/XSxFPEuSSj
A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup – Chris Blattman http://t.co/54tPxHS6ym
This is how I think about sports! Nice to see a utilitarian perspective out there: http://t.co/Tdu1kosqFb
Nigeria came top! A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/SrrbaI2i0s via @jetpack
A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/OEajswhkLQ
A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/M5ZdOEYYSz via @jetpack
A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/9BG7r4HV7O via @jetpack
RT @cblatts: A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/XSxFPEuSSj
My sports methods finally quantified. ‘A Devt Economist’s Guide to #WorldCup Rooting’ http://t.co/7mKyrHq96w #aggregatehappiness ht @cblatts
Which World Cup Winner creates most happiness? Depends on national poverty, population, and love for football! http://t.co/JUUH6XChUL
RT @cblatts: A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/XSxFPEuSSj
RT @cblatts: A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/XSxFPEuSSj
RT @cblatts: A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/XSxFPEuSSj
RT @cblatts: A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/XSxFPEuSSj
Go #Nigeria A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/8tTJ0kAdWq via @jetpack
RT @cblatts: A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/XSxFPEuSSj
In response to Soccer fan’s question, “If poverty, population, and passion for soccer are controlled for, what explains the apparent heterogeneity in performance?” Clearly it’s settler mortality rates.
RT @cblatts: A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/XSxFPEuSSj
RT @cblatts: A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/XSxFPEuSSj
RT @cblatts: A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/XSxFPEuSSj
@cblatts Suffice to say I’m not optimistic about Ghana…
RT @cblatts: A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/XSxFPEuSSj
Shouldn’t one take into account diminishing marginal utility from world cup victories? This would push Brazil down the ranking a bit…
If poverty, population, and passion for soccer are controlled for, what explains the apparent heterogeneity in performance?
@cblatts A bit late to root for Ghana. A re-calculated score could throw the whole continent’s population behind #Nigeria.
A #development economist’s guide on who to root for in the #worldcup http://t.co/nAx3r8KWnJ
RT @cblatts: A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the #WorldCup2014 http://t.co/UA8uQN07xY
A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/2ZhRM2NQMY via @jetpack
Bin ab jetzt für Nigeria ;) http://t.co/s9MSuAsarw
A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/lxLGB5jrLQ via @jetpack
This assumes fans are nationals. Seems there is variation in regional vs. national support – i.e. I suspect support of teams is more national than regional in Latin America and Europe, but more regional than national in Africa (widespread support of all the African teams). So, the fan base of African teams may extend further than those teams in other regions. Just a hunch.
Interesting, but that’s an economist’s view. A political scientist would recognize that being a fan of soccer doesn’t imply any affinity with the national team. You’d have to weight the scores by some measure of national unity — which I suspect would tank Nigeria’s chances.
http://t.co/0k9Pi5KNbN
@cblatts I’d like the see the study measuring relative unhappiness if some country wins, factoring in how much countries dislike each other
RT @cblatts: A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/XSxFPEuSSj
RT @cblatts: A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/XSxFPEuSSj
RT @cblatts: A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/XSxFPEuSSj
RT @cblatts: A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/XSxFPEuSSj
.@cblatts @dylanmatt among surprises in the spreadsheet, http://t.co/lvtVy28NlM Koreans love badminton & Croatians into Water Polo
RT @crislopezg: The outcome that would produce the largest aggregate increase in happiness would be for Nigeria to take the Cup home: http:…
The outcome that would produce the largest aggregate increase in happiness would be for Nigeria to take the Cup home: http://t.co/LTGbiYdXmo
RT @cblatts: A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/XSxFPEuSSj
The utilitarian’s guide for who to root for in the #WorldCup. (Go #NGA) http://t.co/UOvk7T7UDH
RT @cblatts: A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/XSxFPEuSSj
RT @cblatts: A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/XSxFPEuSSj
RT @cblatts: A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/XSxFPEuSSj
RT @cblatts: A development economist’s guide to decide what team to root for in the World Cup http://t.co/XSxFPEuSSj