title: Sports and Child Development.
abstract: The role of curricular activities for the formation of education, health and behavioural outcomes has been widely studied. Yet, the role of extra-curricular activities has received little attention. This study analyzes the effect of participation in sports clubs-one of the most popular extra-curricular activities among children. We use alternative datasets and flexible semi-parametric estimation methods with a specific way to use the panel dimension of the data to address selection into sports. We find positive and robust effects on children's school performance and peer relations. Crowding out of passive leisure activities can partially explain the effects.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Institute for Empirical Economic Research, University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.|Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institut, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Felfe
authors.affiliation: Swiss Institute for Empirical Economic Research, University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.|Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institut, Munich, Germany.|Center for Economic Policy Research, London, England.|Policy Studies Institute, London, England.|Institute for the Study of Labor, Bonn, Germany.|Institut for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lechner
authors.affiliation: Institute for the Study of Labor, Bonn, Germany.|Department of Economics, University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2491-5032
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steinmayr
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013177:Sports