RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 It’s Just a Game
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 946
OP 978
DO 10.3368/jhr.52.4.0615-7213R
VO 52
IS 4
A1 Brian Duncan
A1 Hani Mansour
A1 Daniel I. Rees
YR 2017
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/52/4/946.abstract
AB Previous studies have explored the effect of earthquakes and terrorist attacks on birth outcomes. These events are unexpected and obvious sources of distress, but could affect fetal health through multiple channels. Using data from the National Vital Statistics System for the period 1969–2004, we estimate the relationship between prenatal exposure to the Super Bowl and low birth weight. Although sporting events can elicit intense emotions, they do not pollute the environment or threaten viewers with direct physical harm. We find that Super Bowl exposure is associated with a small, but precisely estimated, increase in the probability of low birth weight.