If your hometown NFL team wins the Super Bowl, that rocks! Heck, living in a small Midwestern town, I think having an NFL team in my hometown would rock. But anyway, winning the big game means a lot for area businesses -- like the bars and restaurants where people watch the game or celebrate after the win and the sporting goods manufacturers and retailers whose souvenir team merchandise is snapped up by jazzed fans. But a UMR economist says the Steelers' win could have an economic impact of more than $300 million. Now that's a lot of giant foam fingers.

In a story in the Pittsburgh Tribune, Michael C. Davis, assistant professor of economics and finance at UMR tells readers about a paper he co-wrote with a Xavier University sports-fan psychology expert that details their research on economic impact. The pair found that when a city experiences a major win -- like the Super Bowl -- it makes employees feel better about their jobs, which makes them more productive AND more likely to spend money. People feel good about living in a winning town and feeling good makes you buy things. Not only that, but it draws others who want to bask in the glory.