Oldies but Goldies! Twenty Years After, the Journal of Sports Economics at a Crossroads?

The present article first delineates core sport economics and compares the content of the Journal of Sports Economics (JSE) in different periods of time, then with other core publications in sport economics. Finally, a comparison is undertaken with articles in sport economics which have been published in generalist economics journals over the past two decades. A major conclusion is that the JSE appears to be the mainstream journal in quantitative sport microeconomics. Other strengths and weaknesses are exhibited and tentatively explained, including a marginal attention paid to non-microeconomic issues in sport and some other unheeded topics. A final conclusion is geared toward options for the editorial policy in the decades to come.

Automated summary

This article outlines core sports economics, compares the content of the Journal of Sports Economics (JSE) with other publications, and discusses the publication trends in the field of sports economics over the past two decades. The JSE is identified as the mainstream journal in quantitative sport microeconomics, with both strengths and weaknesses highlighted for consideration in future editorial policies.