The persisting link between physical recreation spending and education – the case of Finland
International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy
ISSN: 0144-333X
Article publication date: 9 April 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the development of household spending on physical recreation and the structural distribution of spending over the years 1985-2012 in Finland linked to various contextual factors including education level, income and area of residence.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses Statistics Finland’s consumption research data in a quantitative analysis toward adding a new dimension to research on Finns’ physical recreation spending.
Findings
Findings show that the amount of money spent on physical recreation equipment and services has grown steadily. Finns’ spending on physical recreation continues to be relatively conservative relative to income, though there are notable differences between population groups. The link between education level and physical recreation remains strong. The largest difference between education levels is between those having completed basic level education and those with higher education degrees. Household type also explains a great deal of the difference in amount spent on physical recreation. According to the results, physical recreation spending is central to the leisure activities of highly educated family units.
Originality/value
Research on the stratification of consumption habits in Finnish society has not yet addressed physical recreation spending. Furthermore, research on income spent on such activity by various population groups at different times has not been carried out. This paper provides research on both of these themes.
Keywords
Citation
Keipi, T., Räsänen, P., Kajava, O. and Saarinen, A. (2018), "The persisting link between physical recreation spending and education – the case of Finland", International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 38 No. 3/4, pp. 182-193. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-08-2017-0101
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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