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Did Expanding Sports Opportunities for Women Reduce Crime? Evidence from a Natural Experiment

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  • Drew McNichols
  • Joseph J. Sabia
  • Gokhan Kumpas

Abstract

Advocates of youth sports programs, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, argue that athletic competition reduces crime among participants, thereby generating external social benefits. However, next to nothing is known about the impact of sports participation on crime. Using the introduction of Title IX as a natural experiment, we find that exposure to a ten percentage point higher female sports participation rate while in high school reduced adult female arrests for Part I offenses by approximately 0.5 arrests per 1,000 population. This result is consistent with sports participation-induced gains in educational attainment and labor market outcomes and suggests important external benefits of the 1972 educational amendments to Title IX.

Suggested Citation

  • Drew McNichols & Joseph J. Sabia & Gokhan Kumpas, 2024. "Did Expanding Sports Opportunities for Women Reduce Crime? Evidence from a Natural Experiment," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 59(3), pages 810-851.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:59:y:2024:i:3:p:810-851
    Note: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.1120-11303R2
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • K14 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Criminal Law

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