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Participation And Engagement In Sport: A Double Hurdle Approach For The United Kingdom, Babatunde Buraimo, Brad Humphreys, Rob Simmons

Dr Babatunde Buraimo

This paper uses pooled cross-section data from four waves of the United Kingdom’s Taking Part Survey, 2005 to 2009, in order to investigate determinants of probability of participation and levels of engagement in sports. The two rival modelling approaches considered here are the double-hurdle approach and the Heckman sample selection model. The Heckman model proves to be deficient in several key respects. The double-hurdle approach offers more reliable estimates than the Heckman sample selection model, at least for this particular survey. The distinction is more than just statistical nuance as there are substantive differences in qualitative results from the two …