Economists keep eye on the ball with ‘soccernomics’

NO SOCCER fan would tune in to an investment banker providing live commentary and analysis on the World Cup, but nothing will stop some banks from coupling a day job and a passion, with some interesting results.

In a report called Soccernomics 2006, Dutch bank ABN-AMRO argued that the best outcome for the global economy would be a European final where Germany met Italy, and lost.