Estimation of a Structural Model of the Determinants of the Time Spent on Physical Activity and Sport

Abstract

The aim of this article is to extend the standard neoclassical consumer theory to explain the allocation of individual time to physical activity and sports. The authors assume a Constant Elasticity of Substitution (CES) utility function and they estimate the model using the Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) method and the Heckman two-step procedure. They run separate estimates for men and women using the Spanish Time-Use Survey conducted in 2002-2003. The results show that there are gender differences in the determinants of the allocation of time to physical activity. Moreover, participation in physical activity and sports and the time devoted to these activities seem to be based on different decisions.

Economic Freedom and Exercise: Evidence from State Outcomes

“…Both working and retired people are more likely to exercise than the unemployed. All these estimated signs support the idea that the decision to exercise is an economic decision and are consistent with findings from previous studies on the decision to participate in physical activity (Farrell and Shields ; Humphreys and Ruseski ; Hawkins et al ; Eberth and Smith ; Brown and Roberts ; García, Lera‐López, and Suárez ; Humphreys and Ruseski ).…”

Differences in formal and informal sports participation at regional level in England

“…Both education and gender variables have significant cultural associations (Kokolakakis et al, 2016). The empirical evidence concludes that traditionally, adult males are more likely to participate in sport than females (Downward & Rasciute, 2014) and that there is a negative relationship between age and sports participation due to biological and physical limitations (Downward et al, 2014), although in some studies sport frequency increases with age (Breuer & Wicker, 2009a;Garcia, Lera-López & Suarez, 2011) indicating a potentially higher level of health awareness among elder people and an increase in free time during retirement. Reflecting the importance of time constraints, married people and families with more members traditionally participate less in sport (Kokolakakis et al, 2014).…”

Labor market effects of sports and exercise: Evidence from Canadian panel data

“…Eberth andSmith, 2010, Garcìa, Lera-López, andSuárez, 2011;Humphreys and Ruseski, 2010;Stamatakis and Chaudhury, 2008). Higher income raises the participation rate and frequency of participation in sports and exercise (Downward and Rasciute, 2010;Humphreys and Ruseski, 2010;Lechner, 2009).…”