Experts

Profile image for Todd McFall

Todd McFall

Assistant Teaching Professor of Economics

McFall uses his interest in golf and basketball to explain how regulatory policies impact competitors’ strategies.

Biography

Sports economist Todd McFall uses his interest in golf, basketball and tournament competition to explain how regulatory policies may have surprising outcomes with regards to competitors’ strategies. In his recent book, “The (Peculiar) Economics of NCAA Basketball,” McFall discusses the NCAA’s repeated favoritism towards schools with the largest economic influence. After decades of mismanagement and… Read More »

Sports economist Todd McFall uses his interest in golf, basketball and tournament competition to explain how regulatory policies may have surprising outcomes with regards to competitors’ strategies.

In his recent book, “The (Peculiar) Economics of NCAA Basketball,” McFall discusses the NCAA’s repeated favoritism towards schools with the largest economic influence. After decades of mismanagement and complacency, he argues, the NCAA is paying the price.

McFall can also discuss the risks versus rewards when state and local governments become involved in the financing, design, construction, and management or ownership of professional sports facilities.

His findings in a study on player behavior following the banning of high-spin clubs on the PGA Tour reveal more than how pro golfers traded risk for more certain strategies and improved their scores, despite the less technologically advanced equipment with which they were allowed to play. The research supports previous studies that tell us people change their behavior when the rules change — adding credence to the notion that government regulations may not always have the affect lawmakers anticipate.

McFall has served as an economist at Welch Consulting, Ltd., where he worked with law firms seeking advice on economic litigation matters. He has published peer-reviewed articles related to golf and golfing tournaments in The Journal of Sports Economics and Applied Economic Letters. He has comfortable with both radio and broadcast interviews.

Media Appearances

NBA free agents sign deals as high as some nations' GDPs: How the league got that rich

CNBC

July 8, 2016

Todd McFall, who researches sports and economics at Wake Forest University, even said the cap on top salaries has led to a competitive imbalance as top players “compensate themselves by finding super teams” in place of taking larger contracts.​ ​”These guys can’t find contracts because there’s no optioning process … commensurate to their value,” McFall said. “It seems to me like it’s going to lessen the churn at the top of the NBA totem poll.”

Fox Sports sets up for long game in U.S. women's soccer

Reuters

June 11, 2015

“With the Women’s World Cup, they’re fighting a little bit of an uphill battle, because we haven’t figured out how to market successfully women’s sports,” said Todd McFall, a sports economics professor at Wake Forest University. Indeed, even diehard soccer fans believe Fox faces a big challenge.

All Experts

More Information

Areas of Expertise

  • Economic Implications of Public
  • Economics of Education
  • NCAA Tournament Organization
  • Personnell Economics
  • Policy Economic Litigation
  • Sports Economics
  • Technological Change on Economic Decision-Making

Education

North Carolina State University: Ph.D., Economics

Miami University: B.Ed., Education

Contact

Broadcast Studio

Wake Forest University’s Office of Communications and External Relations operates a fully equipped, professional television and radio studio to connect faculty members and campus newsmakers with global news media.

Learn More