Question

What Sandel trying to say in the fifth chapter of his book about the role of advertising in society? Do you think that naming-rights, so prevalent in athletics today, affect the quality of the games being played? What kind of limits should we place on advertising?

Answer 1

Michael j Sandel teaches political philosophy in Harvard University and his writing provides useful perspective about the modern market and advertisement. According to Sandel, markets not only allocate the goods but also express the attitudes and reaction towards the goods. The advertising market of US is highly profit-oriented and concerned about gaining projects.
The advertising form, including financial transactions in which a corporation or other entity buys the right to name a facility or event is called naming rights. The main feature of this is that the entity which purchases has the right to market their products and services to increase market share.
The naming rights prevalent in the athletics give a financial boost to the players. The corporation has a great chance to assist their brand and also the players gain high incomes, modern facilities and increase team negotiating power. Also the smaller level sponsorship agreements like t-shirts deals which encourage the teams to play well to earn well. Moreover, there should be some limits to advertising because this could also undervalue the sporting teams. The fans might feel isolated if the corporate companies have a negative image. The funds should be deposited in district accounts and there should be an well-explained agreement of naming rights.