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Research ArticleArticles

Did Expanding Sports Opportunities for Women Reduce Crime?

Evidence from a Natural Experiment

Drew McNichols, Joseph J. Sabia and Gokhan Kumpas
Published online before print April 06, 2023, 1120-11303R2; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.1120-11303R2
Drew McNichols
Center for Health Economics & Policy Studies, E-mail:
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Joseph J. Sabia
Center for Health Economics & Policy Studies, Department of Economics, San Diego State University & IZA, E-mail:
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Gokhan Kumpas
Center for Health Economics & Policy Studies, Department of Economics and Statistics, California State University, Los Angeles, E-mail:
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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 10 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.

Keywords:
  • Title IX
  • sports participation
  • crime
  • arrests
JEL Codes:
  • J16
  • I28
  • K14

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Journal of Human Resources: 60 (3)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 60, Issue 3
1 May 2025
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Did Expanding Sports Opportunities for Women Reduce Crime?
Drew McNichols, Joseph J. Sabia, Gokhan Kumpas
Journal of Human Resources Apr 2023, 1120-11303R2; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.1120-11303R2

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Did Expanding Sports Opportunities for Women Reduce Crime?
Drew McNichols, Joseph J. Sabia, Gokhan Kumpas
Journal of Human Resources Apr 2023, 1120-11303R2; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.1120-11303R2
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Keywords

  • Title IX
  • sports participation
  • crime
  • arrests
  • J16
  • I28
  • K14
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