The economics of emotion: A budget in the time of high inflation and football fever

Bangladesh is in for a
uniquely double-header on 11 June 2026: the national budget and the FIFA World
Cup enter the arena on the same day.
One outlines the nation's
economic priorities and financial goals; the other is about teams chasing
goals. A striking coincidence emerges when we look at the timing of these two
events. Except for Qatar 2022's winter edition, the two events have long shared
the same seasonal stage since before Bangladesh was even an idea on a map.
These two events may seem
completely different. Yet their convergence offers an important lesson about
the relationship between economics and human emotion.
Every year, the national
budget brings policymakers to balance competing demands for healthcare,
education, infrastructure, social protection and economic development. In a
developing country like Bangladesh, various economic uncertainties prevail,
including slower growth, rising public debt and persistent cost-of-living
pressures. Citizens are concerned about inflation, household expenses and
employment opportunities.
Against this backdrop, the
World Cup offers people brief but meaningful respite. For a few weeks, football
fever allows millions to step away from economic difficulties and share moments
of enthusiasm, hope and collective joy.
Even in countries that do not
participate in the tournament, the World Cup can generate a significant
economic boost. Vendors sell flags of nations, fans buy jerseys of their
favourite players, and media companies enjoy record viewership from audiences
who otherwise skip advertisements at lightning speed.
Even local shops and
restaurants benefit as the football fever reaches the snack counter too, with
fans consuming more crisps, popcorn, fast food and soft drinks during match
nights.
Now imagine if the all-time
fan favourites Argentina and Brazil meet in the final, the country's emotional
GDP may well outperform its economic GDP for a few unforgettable weeks. Entire
communities gather to watch matches, streets are decorated with flags and
banners of different national teams, and fans celebrate victories and mourn
defeats as if they were their own.
It is a matter of fact that
the World Cup cannot stabilise long-persistent inflation, reduce budget
deficits or fix structural economic challenges. Yet the annual budget and the
quadrennial World Cup represent two sides of the same coin. The budget
addresses the practical realities of economic life, how resources should be
allocated and spent, while the World Cup reminds us why those resources matter
in the first place.
All these economic policies
and governance structures ultimately exist to serve citizens. And people are
motivated not only by economic incentives but also by emotions, excitement and
shared moments of celebration.
Perhaps even the finance
minister, after delivering a lengthy budget speech explaining the country's
fiscal constraints, revenue targets and expenditures, might find a moment of
relief watching his favourite team take the field. For a few weeks, financial
statement sheets give way to score sheets, and economic anxieties are replaced
by the shared drama of the matches.
















