640. Why Governments Are Betting Big on Sports

You could easily spend a lifetime, or a hundred lifetimes, simply observing the flow of goods and services and people from one part of the world to another. We've touched on this in a few recent episodes. One was about global commodity traders. That was episode six thirty-three. The other was an interview with a Federal Reserve Bank president about how tariffs the US economy, that was episode 634. Global trade is endlessly fascinating in part because it is endlessly changing. And one of the most interesting trade sectors at this moment. Involves not just economics, but politics.

Cultural. And much more. This is a business that usually revolves around some kind of a ball. It's not just about bringing a basketball game. There are longer term visions and plans.

In China there are thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Premier League soccer fans. To export America's pastime. Today on Freakonomics Radio, how Gulf State Petrodollars are reshaping sports in America and Europe. Why China is building soccer stadiums in Ivory Coast? And

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