The success of the Rugby World Cup should be measured in the "enjoyment" New Zealanders get out of it rather than how much money it brings to the economy, says a Massey University economics lecturer.
Sam Richardson, who has researched public spending during sporting events, said attempts to measure the success of the tournament in dollar terms could be missing the point.
"What becomes more important is what New Zealanders think of the event, and our enjoyment.
"If anything it is the value of the 'warm and fuzzies' and our perceptions and experience of the event that is a more defendable measure of success," Dr Richardson said.
He was sceptical of an estimate from the event's organisers, Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd, that it could add $507 million to gross domestic product (GDP).
Research in the United States suggested the real figure could be closer to $50.7 million.
"We also know that the taxpayer will pick up a sizeable chunk of what is expected to be a loss of around $40 million."
To justify that spending what really mattered was whether New Zealand and the rest of the world "perceived" the tournament as a success, he said.
