Are Big-Time Sports a Threat to Student Achievement?

Jason Lindo, Isaac D. Swensen and Glen Waddell (waddell@uoregon.edu)

No 17677, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We consider the relationship between collegiate-football success and non-athlete student performance. We find that the team's success significantly reduces male grades relative to female grades. This phenomenon is only present in fall quarters, which coincides with the football season. Using survey data, we find that males are more likely than females to increase alcohol consumption, decrease studying, and increase partying in response to the success of the team. Yet, females also report that their behavior is affected by athletic success, suggesting that their performance is likely impaired but that this effect is masked by the practice of grade curving.

JEL-codes: H0 I23 J16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu, nep-lab and nep-spo
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Published as Jason M. Lindo & Isaac D. Swensen & Glen R. Waddell, 2012. "Are Big-Time Sports a Threat to Student Achievement?," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 4(4), pages 254-74, October.

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