An Overview - Sport New Zealand

THE VALUE OF SPORT
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5. Social Benefits of
Sport and Recreation
Participation in sport and recreation activities produces a wider range of
personal and social benefits (non-market) than simply providing economic
opportunities for businesses producing sport and recreation goods and
services. There is international evidence, for example, that participants in
sport and recreation are on average more productive in employment and
enjoy better health outcomes. There are also costs from participation,
particularly accidental deaths and serious injuries. Table 5 summarises the
benefits and costs included in this study and the remainder of this section
explains how these figures have been calculated.
The economy benefits
from people who live
active lives as they are
more productive and
healthier
Table 5
Direct benefits and costs from participation, 2009
Benefits and Costs
Estimated Value ($ millions)
Increased work productivity $281
Improved health outcomes $3,947
Total Personal Benefits $4,228
Accidental premature deaths – $336
Suffering from injuries – $1,887
Other costs of injuries – $967
Total Personal Costs – $3,190
Total Net Benefits $1,038
Source: Various sources as explained in the text.
Calculating productivity and health benefits
A recent Australian study estimates that the overall average labour
productivity loss caused by physical inactivity corresponds to a direct loss
of 1.8 working days per worker per year. Assuming 240 working days per
annum, this implies that the work productivity of a physically inactive person
is 0.75 per cent lower than that of a physically active person. The 2007/08
Active New Zealand Survey reports that 20 per cent of the adult population
are counted as physically active because of their participation in sport and
recreation.
Inactive people are
less productive.
Based on an Australian
study, an average
worker loses 1.8
working days per year
if they are inactive