Women-owned businesses in Wisconsin have tripled since 1990, but they still account for a small portion of the state’s overall economy. Our guest business expert explains the economic and social benefits of women holding leadership roles. We also learn about a UW-Madison initiative aimed at helping identify the remains of fallen soldiers, and catch up with the latest news in the FIFA scandal.
Featured in this Show
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FIFA Scandal Is A 'Watershed Moment' For The Game Of Soccer, Says Professor
Andrei Markovits, professor of political science and German studies at the University of Michigan, says the latest FIFA scandal is a watershed moment for the game of soccer.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter announced his resignation Tuesday, less than a week after he was re-elected to the post as the head of soccer’s international governing organization. His resignation came in the wake of a criminal probe implicating several FIFA officials in cases of corruption, bribes and vote rigging.
Markovits said the heart of this scandal arises from the “unbelievable desirability” of hosting World Cups and other tournaments.
“That’s why you had massive, massive payola of officials to vote for certain countries to host these things,” he said.
Last Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted 14 men — over half of them FIFA officials — for corruption spanning two decades.
Markovits, co-author of “Offside: Soccer and American Exceptionalism“ and “Gaming the World: How Sports Are Reshaping Global Politics and Culture,” said the move by U.S. authorities marks the first time a state power has intervened, in this case because American banks were used. He compared FIFA’s grip over soccer to the Vatican’s power within Catholicism.
“The reason that FIFA and the officials could be so corrupt is precisely because they’re a monopoly, precisely because they are lording over a public good, which is what economists would say is perfectly price inelastic — meaning regardless who it’s run by people will watch it and want to consume it,” Markovits said.
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Filmmaker Helps Identify Soldier's Remains, UW Starts Initiative
A filmmaker from Middleton, Wisconsin recently completed a project to help identify the 70-year-old remains of a lost World War II soldier. We hear his story, and how his experience led to a new initiative to identify more remains at UW-Madison.
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Where Are Wisconsin's Women Business Leaders?
Despite growth in recent decades, women remain underrepresented as business owners in Wisconsin. A report from the University of Wisconsin looks at barriers to business leadership positions for women in the state.
Episode Credits
- Rob Ferrett Host
- Veronica Rueckert Host
- Amanda Magnus Producer
- Veronica Rueckert Producer
- Galen Druke Producer
- Andrei Markovits Guest
- Jed Henry Guest
- Tessa Conroy Guest
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