Feyenoordfans are in an euphoric state of mind, because their club has won from Ajax with 6-2 last weekend. This victory is not only celebrated by the club and their fans, but also by the employers of these fans. According to Jan van Ours, Professor of Applied Economics, with focus on Labour, Health and Well-being at Erasmus School of Economics, happy employees work harder, and this is also the case when that happiness is caused by the victory of their favourite football club.
As a result of the victory on Sunday afternoon, many Feyenoordfans came to work with a smile on their face on Monday and they instantly were better employees. That happy employees work harder has been proven by research and employers make use of this fact by introducing flexible working hours and improving lunch offerings. Sporting events and other events can have a similar effect, says Professor Van Ours, who is a Feyenoordfan himself, and the organisers of big sporting events know this. When organisers try to quantify the costs and benefits of big sporting events, such as the Olympics, they even take into account the positive effect of this event on the happiness of the inhabitants of the city or country where the event is held. When compared to the Olympics, the victory of Feyenoord will only have a temporary effect. However, for 'diehardfans' it could last a little longer. For example, I still become happy when I think about the championship of Feyenoord. In Amsterdam, people will have the opposite feeling: the feeling that comes with defeat. However, this will contribute to the happiness of the Feyenoordfans.
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Read the entire article (in Dutch) on Algemeen Dagblad, 29 January 2019
