How much is a World Cup worth?

How much is winning a World Cup actually worth?

This year, it would seem, that it is more valuable than ever. But is money more important than happiness?

When measuring economies these days two factors are generally considered, money and happiness. A "Happiness Index" is a tool that has been developed to measure the gross national happiness of a country, and in recent times it has become a more accurate tool than by measuring the old GDP.

When the World Cup kicks off in South Africa this summer, FIFA will have set aside some £250 million for prize money. A huge amount you will agree, especially when you consider that the prize money on offer in 2006 was only £140 million.

The 2010 World Cup winners will receive £18million for becoming champions, the losing finalists will take home a miserable £14 million.

Third and fourth, so oft dismissed as meaningless places, will take home £12 million and £11 million respectively. Losing Quarter-Finalists will be awarded £8.5 million each while teams exiting in the second round will receive £5.5 million each, leaving teams who were knocked out in the first round to leave with their tale between their legs carrying £5 million each.

In addition to that, each of the 32 teams on show will receive £600,000 each for expenses incurred during preparation for the month long tournament.

This money will go some way to keeping the competing teams happy, and knowing that club sides from all over the world will be represented, FIFA has also set aside £25 million for them, too.

The way their payments are structured is that from 15 days before the tournament commences until one day after the player exits the cup, clubs will receive £980 for every day a player is there. Meaning that the minimum that any team will receive for one single player is £25,480.

This was in exchange for clubs not suing an international team should a player become injured.

So the monetary success of a team in the tournament can be measured, and the further a team progresses the happier it's people will be.

This will have far more significance back home where parties in streets and public houses alike are likely to happen. Should a team progress than their advancement will become a national topic and people who would not normally be football fans will become one as the nation looks on expectantly.

Days of sporting importance have long been linked with the happiness of a state or country.

Simple measurements can be taken to see how the day effected the general populace. For example, birth rates usually rise after moments of national significance. Recently, the birth rate in Barcelona rose by an incredible 45 percent after Barca won the Champions League in 2009.

Another simple measurement is suicide. Statistically, it is proven that suicides drop in times of mass public interest in sport. Not because sport all of sudden becomes more important, but the public inclusion of people who normally find themselves marginalised prevents suicide from happening.

Money, of course, is what an important component in making people happy. But it takes a whole change in class before that happiness can really be measured, for most status is what is important.

And that is where happiness can really be measured. People will be happier the further their team progresses, the players will be happy, too.

Willie Gannon is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, the open source sports network.