Ebook: Soccernomics: Why England Loses, Why Spain, Germany, and Brazil Win, and Why the U.S., Japan, Australia—and Even Iraq—Are Destined to Become the Kings of the World's Most Popular Sport

The 2018 World Cup edition of the international bestseller and "the most intelligent book ever written about soccer" ( San Francisco Chronicle ) is updated throughout and features new chapters on the FIFA scandal, why Iceland wins, and women's soccer. Named one of the Best Books of the Year by the Guardian , Slate , Financial Times , Independent (UK), and Bloomberg News Written with an economist's brain and a soccer writer's skill, Soccernomics applies high-powered analytical tools to everyday soccer topics, looking at data and revealing counterintuitive truths about the world's most beloved game. It all adds up to a revolutionary new approach that has helped change the way the game is played. This World Cup edition features ample new material, including fresh insights into FIFA's corruption, the surge in domestic violence during World Cups, and Western Europe's unprecedented dominance of global soccer.;1. Driving with a dashboard: In search of new truths about soccer -- Part 1. The clubs: Racism, stupidity, bad transfers, capital cities, the Leicester fairy tale and what actually happened in that penalty shoot-out in Moscow -- 2. Gentlemen prefer blonds: How to avoid silly mistakes in the transfer market -- 3. The worst business in the world: Why soccer clubs haven't made money -- 4. Safer than the Bank of England: Why soccer clubs almost never disappear -- 5. Crooked business: Soccer's corruption and the history of tech -- 6. A decent business at last? Be careful what you wish for -- 7. Need not apply: Does soccer discriminate against black people? -- 8. Do coaches matter? The cult of the white manager -- 9. The secret of Claude Makelele: How "Match Data" are changing the game on the field -- 10. The economist's fear of the penalty kick: Are penalties cosmically unfair, or only if you are Nicolas Anelka? -- 11. The suburban newsagents: City sizes and soccer prizes -- Part 2. The fans: Loyalty, suicides, and happiness -- 12. A fan's suicide notes: Do people jump off buildings when their teams lose? -- 13. Happiness: Why hosting a World Cup is good for you -- 14. Football versus football: A tale of two empires -- 15. Are soccer fans polygamists? A critique of the Nick Hornby model of fandom -- Part 3. Countries: Rich and poor, Tom Thumb, England, Spain, Palestine, and the champions of the future -- 16. The curse of poverty: Why poor countries are poor at sports -- 17. Why England loses and other Europeans win: Beaten by a dishwasher -- 18. Made in Amsterdam: The rise of Spain and the triumph of European knowledge networks -- 19. Tom Thumb: The best little soccer country on earth -- 20. Core to periphery: The future map of global soccer -- 21. The future: The best of times -- and the Smartphone.