ECONOMIST TAKES A PIN TO ATLANTA'S INFLATED EXPECTATIONS

     The $5.1B economic impact of the Olympic Games on Atlanta
predicted by Univ. of Georgia economist Jeffrey Humphreys "was
too optimistic" according to a new estimate by economist Donald
Ratajczak of Georgia State University.  Rauscher and Unger of the
ATLANTA CONSTITUTION report that Ratajczak's own estimate is
$4.1B but his "gut feeling is that it will be closer to $3.5B."
Ratajczak bases his estimate on four factors:  the higher-than-
anticipated number of jobs going to out-of-state workers; a high
proportion of tickets sold to Georgia residents who will spend
"far less" money than out-of-state visitors; many ticket holders
staying with friends and family instead of hotels; and "a huge
volume" of convention and meeting business usually held in
Atlanta lost due to renovations or a mistaken belief that the
city was booked up (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 7/11).