Does Sports Activity Improve Health? Representative Evidence Using Density of Sports Facilities as an Instrument

Forthcoming, Applied Economics

29 Pages Posted: 16 Oct 2014 Last revised: 20 Feb 2017

See all articles by Marc Brechot

Marc Brechot

University of Zurich - Department of Business Administration (IBW)

Stephan Nüesch

University of Münster

Egon P. Franck

University of Zurich - Department of Business Administration (IBW)

Date Written: February 1, 2017

Abstract

Using representative and geocoded data from the Swiss Household Panel (SHP) and the Swiss Business Census, we estimate the effect of sports activity on health. OLS models show that sports activity significantly decreases overweight, sleeping problems, headaches, back problems, and perceived health impediments in everyday activities and significantly increases health satisfaction. Because sports activity is likely to be misreported and correlated with unobserved determinants of health, we use the number of sports facilities within 6 miles of the individual’s residence as an instrument for sports activity. Although the instrument is powerful in explaining sports activity, the second-stage effects on health are mostly statistically insignificant due to the high standard errors of the IV estimates.

Keywords: sports activity; health; instrumental variable; sports facilities

JEL Classification: I10, I12, H51, C26

Suggested Citation

Brechot, Marc and Nüesch, Stephan and Franck, Egon P., Does Sports Activity Improve Health? Representative Evidence Using Density of Sports Facilities as an Instrument (February 1, 2017). Forthcoming, Applied Economics, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2510771 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2510771

Marc Brechot

University of Zurich - Department of Business Administration (IBW) ( email )

Plattenstrasse 14
Zürich, 8032
Switzerland

Stephan Nüesch (Contact Author)

University of Münster ( email )

Schlossplatz 2
Muenster, D-48149
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://www.wiwi.uni-muenster.de/uf

Egon P. Franck

University of Zurich - Department of Business Administration (IBW) ( email )

Plattenstrasse 14
Zurich 8032
Switzerland
+41 1 634 28 45 (Phone)

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