Does sport make you happy? An analysis of the well‐being derived from sports participation
Top Cited Papers
- 9 May 2011
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in International Review of Applied Economics
- Vol. 25 (3), 331-348
- https://doi.org/10.1080/02692171.2010.511168
Abstract
This paper examines the impact of sports participation upon the subjective well‐being of individuals. Encouraging participation in sports activity is now an important public policy issue, as it is argued that there are benefits in terms of health and well‐being to individuals as well as to society through externalities. Controlling for personal and socio‐demographic characteristics affecting well‐being, this paper examines if participation in, and the frequency and duration of, 67 sports activities affects well‐being. The form in which sports participation takes place is also investigated by examining if social‐interaction sports produce more well‐being. This paper demonstrates that sports participation has a positive affect upon the subjective well‐being of the population and, moreover, estimates its monetary value. The effects are larger if one allows for social interactions.Keywords
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