Comments on: Sports results can affect election results

By: SimonG

SimonG — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:24:52 +0000

Ah, right: in the actual paper. I couldn’t access that first time round but I can see it now. I’m a little surprised that they found no effect on turnout.

I’ll have to bear this in mind next time there’s an election or other important decision during the rugby season.

By: William

William — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:50:52 +0000

Reminds me of the football war.

By: SimonG

SimonG — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:30:31 +0000

Did the study look at turnout as well?
I’m a rugby fan and my team’s performance certainly affects my mood. I wouldn’t be surprised if a poor performance on the field led to voter appathy and a low turnout.

[The 6th paragraph has your answer - Ed]

By: Crow

Crow — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 22:51:03 +0000

Aren’t “just” based on objective and well-reasoned analysis? Have to say LOL at that. All the election decisions I’ve seen in a lotta years are based on party affiliation and incredibly shallow and not-reasoned-at-all analysis. Thinking and debating about pros and cons would be a lovely situation and certainly an incredibly tiny minority in the country do so but by and large that’s simply not the way it works. So, sure, I’m sure a sports win would have a huge effect compared to thoughtful analyses

By: Ed Yong

Ed Yong — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:59:05 +0000

Oh don’t worry – slagging off Berlusconi is fair game on this blog. He’s the national leader that the rest of us turn to when our own politicians make us despair

By: Walter S. Andriuzzi

Walter S. Andriuzzi — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 19:21:38 +0000

I wish it was true: in 2006 we Italians won the World Cup, yet in the next election Berlusconi was elected once again (he was at the opposition in 2006). Sorry for this almost spamming political outpouring, but I could not resist…