Paper: SSRN 2804554

Abstract

Given that Olympic Games held over the past decade each have cost USD 8.9 billion on average, the size and financial risks of the Games warrant study. The objec

Complexity vs Empirical Score

  • Math Complexity: 1.0/10
  • Empirical Rigor: 3.0/10
  • Quadrant: Philosophers — conceptual discussion, limited math and data

Why this score: The paper’s math is limited to descriptive statistics (averages, percentages) without advanced modeling. While it uses historical data, it lacks the implementation-heavy backtesting or detailed datasets typical of high-empirical-rigor finance research, focusing instead on broad phenomenological analysis.

Research Flowchart

  flowchart TD
  A["Research Goal<br>Quantify Olympic cost &amp; overrun"] --> B["Methodology<br>Retrospective cost analysis"]
  B --> C["Data Sources<br>Olympic Games budgets 1960-2016"]
  C --> D["Computation<br>Mean cost &amp; overrun calculations"]
  D --> E["Key Findings<br>Avg cost: USD 8.9B<br>Avg overrun: 156%"]