Identifying Flaws in Economic Arguments

A recent editorial published in a prominent newspaper criticized the use of public funds for hosting major sporting events. The author argued that these events do not significantly boost local economies, citing instances where cities incurred substantial debts after hosting such events. To support her claim, she referenced a study that examined economic indicators in host cities twelve months before and twelve months after they hosted major sporting events. However, she failed to consider other variables that might have influenced these results, such as changes in local industry and tourism patterns.