Open Access
Práctica deportiva y políticas públicas en el deporte en España
(FUNCAS, 2019) Lera López, Fernando; Suárez Fernández, María José; Economía; Ekonomia
El objetivo del artículo es ofrecer una panorámica de la evolución reciente y de las variables asociadas a la práctica deportiva en España, así como de las políticas públicas que se han desarrollado en materia deportiva. El artículo se estructura en tres partes. En primer lugar, se hace un análisis descriptivo de la evolución de los hábitos deportivos en España durante las últimas décadas. En segundo lugar, se efectúa una revisión de la literatura económica relativa a los factores asociados a la realización de deporte por la población española. Además, se lleva a cabo un análisis econométrico de la probabilidad de practicar deporte de forma regular, empleando las cuatro últimas Encuestas de hábitos deportivos, correspondientes a los años 2000, 2005, 2010 y 2015. De esta forma se puede determinar si ha habido cambios en la importancia relativa de las variables relacionadas con la práctica deportiva. En tercer lugar, se describe la estructura de las políticas de fomento del deporte en España y se revisa la evolución reciente del gasto público en esta materia, tanto a nivel nacional como según el tipo de administración.
Open Access
Are football managers as efficient as coaches? Performance analysis with ex ante and ex post inputs in the Premier league
(Routledge, 2019) Zambom Ferraresi, Fabíola; Iraizoz Apezteguia, Belén; Lera López, Fernando; Ekonomia; Institute for Advanced Research in Business and Economics - INARBE; Economía; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
There is a controversy on sport performance literature about what type of inputs might explain more deeply the performance of sports clubs (inputs specification controversy). By one side, several papers have analysed sports teams' performance using the match-related statistics or wages as inputs, well-known as ex post inputs. By other side, some authors have criticized the use of these ex post inputs, and recommend the use of ex ante inputs, as the market value of the players. We have analysed the performance of football teams estimating technical efficiency with three different inputs specification. The methodologies employed were data envelopment analysis (DEA) and a bootstrapped DEA. Our sample is composed by English Premier League football clubs, during three seasons (2012/13-2014/15). The DEA results indicate that the correlation between the three models is positive and significant. The DEA-bootstrapped results help to restate the robustness of the estimations and endorsed the inputs choices. The correlations of the estimations with market value and match-related statistics are the most striking (90% and 94%, DEA and bootstrapped DEA), which indicate that the existent discussion related to the use of match-related statistics as input is unjustified, because it does not affect significantly the efficiency estimations.
Open Access
The correlates of physical activity among the population aged 50-70 years
(Federación Española de Docentes de Educación Física, 2017) Lera López, Fernando; Garrués Irisarri, Mirian; Suárez Fernández, María José; Economía; Ekonomia
Background: Physical activity is of particular interest due to its potential for improving quality of life and reducing health care costs. The contribution of this paper is to analyse the correlates of physical activity (PA) among individuals aged 50-70 years old. We differentiate between physical activity during leisure time (LTPA) and total physical activity (Total PA) and besides we offer potential policy advice to increase PA. Methods: We use a cross-sectional survey from a sample of Spanish individuals between 50 and 70 years of age. We analyse the correlates of LTPA and Total PA by estimating ordered probit models including socio-demographic characteristics, health and emotional wellbeing and social support. Results: The covariates explain in different ways LTPA and Total PA levels. In particular, the accomplishment of a minimum of LTPA is positively related to partner participation in LTPA (p<0.01), a good life satisfaction (p<0.01), being male (p<0.01) and secondary education completion (p<0.02); and it is negatively related to working status (p<0.01). On the contrary, very high levels of total PA are positively associated with partner participation(p<0.01), self-perceived health (p<0.01), women (p<0.01) and working status (p<0.05). Conclusions: It is important to increase male energy expenditure in other life domains besides leisure time. Regarding women, social support seems necessary to reach minimum levels of LTPA. Finally, the socialisation effect that we have obtained as well as the positive impact of the extrinsic social support variables might suggest the necessity to take intoaccount couple and family variables.
Open Access
How the relationship between physical activity and health changes with age
(Springer, 2018-03-28) Lera López, Fernando; Ollo López, Andrea; Garrués Irisarri, Mirian; Cabasés Hita, Juan Manuel; Sánchez Iriso, Eduardo; Economía; Ekonomia; Gestión de Empresas; Enpresen Kudeaketa
In the context of age-related declines in physical activity (PA) and the dramatic increase in ageing populations in many countries, this paper sheds further light on the link between PA and self-perceived health (SPH) by examining whether the magnitude of this relationship is age specific. With a sample of 14,456 Spanish individuals aged 18–69, we estimated three levels of intensity in PA using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Individuals who did more PA per week showed higher levels of SPH (β = 0.28; 95% CI 0.24–0.32), and age moderated this relationship, with a positive effect over age 49. People aged 50–59 and 60–69 who practiced PA had higher probabilities of better SPH compared with those aged 40–49 (β = 0.14; 95% CI 0.04–0.24) and (β = 0.32; 95% CI 0.21–0.43), respectively. This association between PA and SPH also depended on the intensity of PA, especially for walking (β = 0.14; 95% CI 0.04–0.24). In particular, in comparison with people age 40–49, a statistically significant relationship with SPH was found among people age 50–59 who walked (β = 0.22; 95% CI 0.07–0.36) and people age 60–69 who did moderate PA (β = 0.38; 95% CI 0.23–0.54). This paper provides a major rationale for the design, organisation and implementation of public policies promoting PA and healthy ageing for different age groups.
Open Access
Perceived performance effects of ICT in manufacturing SMEs
(Emerald, 2013) Bayo Moriones, José Alberto; Billón Currás, Margarita; Lera López, Fernando; Gestión de Empresas; Enpresen Kudeaketa; Economía; Ekonomia
Purpose. We aim to investigate whether ICT resources, including investment and use of specific types of ICT as well as innovative work practices, have a positive impact on several dimensions of firm performance, taking into account both direct and indirect effects and both short and long-term effects. Design/methodology/approach. An empirical study using data from a sample of 267 Spanish manufacturing SMEs was conducted. We have used path analysis to study direct and indirect ICT impacts. OLS regression is the estimation method employed. Findings. Our findings show a positive relationship between ICT adoption and all the measures of perceived performance analyzed, although the impact is not always immediate since the lag effects and length differ according to the type of ICT. Managers’ perceptions of ICT impact are related to the adoption of new work practices but the effects also depend positively on the number of years since new work practices were implemented. ICT impact on final performance (market share and profits and margin) takes place mainly indirectly through the improvement of internal and external communication as well as through operational performance. Originality/value. This research extends the scope of the analysis of ICT payoff literature by analyzing direct and indirect effects and by focusing on a broad range of technologies, a variety of performance measures and several time lags to study ICT adoption impacts in SMEs. Research limitations/implications. The main limitations of the research stem from the specific geographical context under consideration and restrictions relating to the cross-sectional nature of the data. Practical implications. Our results reveal the wide scope of the benefits of ICT adoption in SMEs and point to the need for persistence in use so as to obtain good results in some areas. They also stress the positive effects of adopting ICTs together with organizational innovation.
Open Access
Actividad física y salud autopercibida en personas mayores de 50 años
(Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, 2017) Lera López, Fernando; Garrués Irisarri, Mirian; Ollo López, Andrea; Sánchez Iriso, Eduardo; Cabasés Hita, Juan Manuel; Sánchez-Santos, José Manuel; Economía; Ekonomia; Gestión de Empresas; Enpresen Kudeaketa
El propósito del estudio es analizar los posibles efectos de la actividad física sobre la salud autopercibida. Para ello, se encuestó a 765 personas entre 50-70 años durante 2012 en España. Se utilizó el cuestionario internacional de actividad física (IPAQ) para estimar el equivalente metabólico de la tarea (MET) total y en cuatro ámbitos: trabajo, ocio, hogar y desplazamientos. La salud auto-percibida se obtuvo de la escala visual analógica del EQ-5D-5L. Los resultados muestran que únicamente el gasto energético de actividad física en el tiempo de ocio incide positivamente en el nivel de salud percibido, el resto de ámbitos no tienen influencia significativa. Asimismo, la autopercepción de la salud es más negativa con mayor edad, menor nivel educativo y mayor frecuencia de uso de servicios sanitarios. En conclusión, la actividad física desarrollada en el tiempo libre podría plantearse como alternativa para mejorar la calidad de vida de los mayores.
Open Access
Differences in formal and informal sports participation at regional level in England
(Routledge, 2017) Kokolakakis, Themis; Castellanos García, Pablo; Lera López, Fernando; Economía; Ekonomia
The aim of the article is to provide a regional approach to analyse sports participation in two different contexts: organised/formal versus non-organised/informal participation, using Sport England’s Active People Survey national data set. We have estimated two models: first, a general model to explain differences in regional informal and formal participation rates; second, an econometric model dealing with formal participation at a regular frequency. The results emphasise the different roles played by some correlates depending on the context of sports participation under study. Only economic and cultural variables seem to have a general influence throughout all the sports participation contexts. The results reinforce the role played by sport supply and sport funding in some sports participation levels, offering interesting implications for sport policy. The urban environment, for example, appears to be positively related to the transition from informal to formal sport participation. The distinct analyses of the sports participation contexts provide the opportunity to evaluate ways of boosting participation as well as to suggest some interesting policy implications towards this aim. For example, sporting infrastructure is only influential for the transition from non-participation to formal participation, implying that in general the key question about sport funding and supply is not the amount of funds but rather the direction and aims of sport policy. Finally, the article offers some explanations about the gender inequality detected in some forms of sports participation.
Open Access
Determinants of Internet use in Spain
(Taylor & Francis, 2011) Lera López, Fernando; Billón Currás, Margarita; Gil, Maria H.; Economía; Ekonomia
This paper analyzes the impact of a variety of socioeconomic, demographic and regional factors to explain Internet use and the frequency of use by individuals in Spain. We have employed binomial and ordered probit models with a Heckman´s two-stage estimation procedure. This allows us to distinguish between different variables and explain both use and the intensity of use, respectively. Internet use is mainly associated with education, age, occupation, employment in service sector, nationality, urban areas and regional GDP per capita. In contrast, frequency of Internet usage is positively related to broadband connection, education, the ways through which Internet skills are acquired, gender, and population size. Knowledge of differences in the determinants of Internet use and its extent of use may help to specify the most suitable policies for each case your abstract
Open Access
Did London 2012 deliver a sports participation legacy?
(Elsevier, 2019) Kokolakakis, Themis; Lera López, Fernando; Ramchandani, Girish; Economía; Ekonomia
Despite the increasing academic interest in the analysis of the Olympic legacy, there is a relative knowledge gap as far as sports participation legacy is concerned. The authors bridge this gap by analysing the short-term sports participation legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the adult population in England. By using data from the Active People Survey and considering different sports participation variables and the effect of the economic climate, results demonstrate a positive association with participation from hosting the Games. Participation rates were adjusted to take into account seasonality and changes in the gross domestic product (GDP), accounting in this way for the effect of the recent economic recession. The biggest effect was observed in relation to frequent participation (at least three times per week for at least 30 min) in the year immediately after the Games. In 2014, the sports participation rates fell relative to 2013 but remained higher than pre-Olympic levels. The sport participation legacy of the Olympic Games appeared to have significant differences between socio-demographic groups.
Open Access
Efficiency in European football teams using WindowDEA: analysis and evolution
(Emerald, 2018) García Cebrián, Lucía Isabel; Zambom Ferraresi, Fabíola; Lera López, Fernando; Economía; Ekonomia; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze efficiency and its evolution in teams that played in the UEFA Champions League during nine seasons. The aim is to present a research procedure for determining the most accurate data envelopment analysis to estimate and compare the efficiency. Design/methodology/approach: First, the authors analyzed the existence of a temporal trend using the S-statistic. The authors calculated the Kruskal–Wallis statistic to verify if there is stability in relative ranks. The results of the aforementioned tests have indicated that window analysis is an accurate methodology to apply to the sample. The authors analyzed 94 clubs with a sample of 288 observations, obtaining 768 efficiency ratios. They have been calculated using super-efficiency which enables to discriminate efficient units. Findings: Results indicate that there is a low efficiency level in the nine seasons observed. There is a strong correlation between sports results and the efficiency of semifinalists. The authors conclude that improvement in a club’s efficiency could enhance its sports results. Finally, as practical implications, the authors highlight benchmark teams and alternative sports tactics to help clubs become more efficient and achieve better sports results. Originality/value: This paper contributes to sports efficiency literature by presenting a research procedure to identify the most accurate methodology to be applied to panel data. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first empirical study on international football competitions applying WindowDEA to incomplete panel data.