Exercise improves academic performance

Arbeitspapier

We report the results of a randomized controlled trial testing whether incentivizing physical exercise improves the academic performance of college students. As expected, the intervention increases physical activity. The main result is that it generates a strong and significant improvement in academic performance, particularly for students who struggled at the baseline in terms of lifestyle habits. We also provide evidence on the underlying mechanisms: Students who were incentivized to exercise have a healthier life style and improved self-control. Overall, the study demonstrates that incentivizing students to exercise can be an important tool in improving educational achievements.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IFN Working Paper ; No. 1180

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Field Experiments ; Health Behavior ; Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health ; Analysis of Education ; Sports Economics: General
• Subject: Economics of education ; Human capital formation ; Behavior change ; Field experiment ; Sport ; Bildungsniveau ; Studierende ; Experiment ; Norwegen

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Cappelen, Alexander W. ; Charness, Gary ; Ekström, Mathias ; Gneezy, Uri ; Tungodden, Bertil
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN)
• (where): Stockholm
• (when): 2017

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/183409
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET