Macro-Analysis of Transfer Fees and Investments in Sports

Systems of transfer fees can be designed in different ways. Their effects have been analysed in detail, particularly in connection with the Bosman-ruling. However, the analyses were only conducted on a microeconomic level and therefore limited to one player and two clubs, one club taking the player in and the other releasing the player. In a macro-analysis covering all players and clubs, new aspects arise. First of all, it is evident that the sum of all paid transfer fees is equal to the sum of all received transfer fees. Hence, there is no redistribution from the players to the clubs, at least no large redistribution anywhere as high as the sum of the transfer fees. The sum of salaries is determined essentially by the revenues of the clubs, not by the design of the transfer system. Admittedly, there are effects on the training investments, the distribution between players and the risk allocation. The transfer system after the Bosman-ruling seems to be best regarding these aspects.