Richmond captain Trent Cotchin and former Hawthorn captain Sam Mitchell were co-winners of the 2012 Brownlow Medal, after Essendon captain Jobe Watson was ruled ineligible. Julian Smith/AAP

Fairest and best? Status counts in the Brownlow Medal

Team captains have a slight statistical advantage in being judged best on ground, says sports economist Liam Lenten.
Gotye’s Somebody That I Used to Know was voted ninth in the Hottest 100 of the Past 20 Years poll. What makes some songs endure as a classic and others fade away?

What makes a classic song? The economics of the Hottest 100

Number crunching the Hottest 100 votes produces fascinating insights into shifting musical tastes and poses the question: why was 1997 such a great year for music?
Australia fell just short in the first Ashes Test. EPA/David Jones

Media misses point on cricket’s Decision Review System

The first Ashes Test was indeed a veritable thriller. England edged Australia by a mere 14 runs, after an absorbing four-and-a-half days of action to go one-up in the best-of-five series. For those not…

VIDEO SERIES: Some Sports Economics

If you think that economics is all theory without real world applications, think again. The Conversation has been running an excellent six-part series by La Trobe University lecturer, Liam Lenten called…
Liam Lenten explains why the government spends your money on sport.

Why do governments fund sports? (VIDEO)

Welcome to Some Sports Economics, a six-part video series explaining economic concepts through sport, by La Trobe University senior lecturer, Liam Lenten. In the sixth and final part of this series, Liam…
Liam Lenten presents Part 5 of Some Sports Economics.

Media broadcast rights and the Prisoner’s Dilemma (VIDEO)

Welcome to Some Sports Economics, a six-part video series explaining economic concepts through sport, by La Trobe University senior lecturer, Liam Lenten. In the fifth part of this series, Liam looks at…
Welcome to Part four of Liam Lenten’s Some Sports Economics.

The economics of comparative advantage and Usain Bolt (VIDEO)

Welcome to Some Sports Economics, a six-part video series explaining economic concepts through sport, by La Trobe University senior lecturer, Liam Lenten. In the fourth part of this series, Liam explains…
Liam Lenten presents Some Sports Economics, a six-part video which uses sporting analogies to explain common economic concepts. YouTube

When scoring an own‑goal is the only way to win (VIDEO)

Welcome to Some Sports Economics, a six-part video series explaining economic concepts through sport, by La Trobe University senior lecturer, Liam Lenten. Liam says: “I am motivated to better explain basic…
RBA governor Glenn Stevens will no doubt be portrayed in a flattering light if the board cuts rates today: but not everyone is a winner. AAP

Not everyone wins when interest rates fall

UPDATE: The Reserve Bank of Australia has cut Australia’s official cash rate by a larger-than-expected 50 basis points, to 3.75%. In the likely event that the Reserve Bank Board chooses to ease the target…
The same teams alway get the good games, such as Anzac Day. AAP

Busting the AFL blockbuster cartel

The Anzac Day clash between Essendon and Collingwood has come and gone yet again, as well as the inevitable publicity surrounding the most hyped home-and-away match of the season. You could be forgiven…

Contact Liam for

  • General
  • Media request
  • Speaking request
  • Consulting / Advising
  • Research collaboration
  • Research supervision