News Release
July 2006
Bethlehem, Pa., July 27, 2006—Dr. Peter von Allmen, professor of economics and
business at Moravian College, was the lead expert featured in the business cover
story on the economics of sports in USA TODAY, Thursday, July 27, 2006. “Batter
up! Sports economics hits field,” written by USA TODAY business reporter Sue Kirchloff,
takes a look at the expanding field of economic study in sports and its integration into
college classrooms. This major trend story was spurred by the popularity of von
Allmen’s leading textbook, The Economics of Sports, which he
co-authored with Michael Leeds, professor of economics at Temple University.
The Economics
of Sports, published in 2001, has become the international standard in colleges
and universities. The book grew out of courses that von Allmen and Leeds have taught
at their respective institutions. A second edition was issued in 2004. The book
has been translated into Chinese, and one of its most popular markets is in Australia.
Classes focusing
on the economics driving the sports world have been very popular among business students
at Moravian College and elsewhere. In the USA TODY article, von Allmen is
quoted as saying, “Students absolutely eat this up. At most schools, the course
is closed the day it opens. Sports, from an economic standpoint, is a fascinating industry
because it's so woven into the popular culture. People care about it in a way that they
don't care about a lot of other industries that have similar or even greater economic
impact.”
Earlier this year, von Allmen was named ACE Fellow for academic year 2006-7 by the American
Council on Education (ACE.) The ACE Fellows Program, established in 1965, is designed
to strengthen institutions and leadership in American higher education by identifying
and preparing promising senior faculty and administrators for responsible positions in
college and university administration. Thirty-eight Fellows, nominated by the presidents
or chancellors of their institutions, were selected this year in a national competition.
von Allmen, who received his B.A. from College of Wooster and earned his Ph.D.
from Temple University, teaches courses in microeconomic theory, labor economics, industrial
organization, the economics of sports, and the economics of health & health care.
He has published in the areas of family labor supply, competitive balance and league
structure, compensation schemes in professional sports, and post-secondary pedagogy.
Link to the USA TODAY article: http://www.usatoday.com/money/2006-07-27-sports-econ-usat_x.htm
Moravian College is a private, coeducational, selective liberal
arts college located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Tracing its founding to 1742, it is
recognized as America's sixth-oldest college. Visit the Web site at www.moravian.edu.
