Household Consumption of Sports in the Czech Republic: An Income Elasticity Analysis in the Context of COVID-19
Vol.20,No.1(2026)
This study examines how the COVID-19 pandemic period affected Czech household consumption of sports goods and sports services over 2006–2022. Using data from the Czech Statistical Office, the income elasticities of demand for sports goods and services are estimated to assess potential structural changes during the pandemic. The results indicate that expenditure on sports goods remained relatively stable, whereas the estimated income elasticity for sports services declined during 2020–2021, consistent with a temporary structural break. Given that these years were characterised by administrative restrictions and limited access to sports facilities, the observed pattern should be interpreted with caution and not as evidence of a permanent reclassification of sports services as inferior goods. The study provides evidence on pandemic-related disruptions in sport consumption and highlights the link between household sport expenditure and public sport spending.
sport consumption; income elasticity; COVID-19 pandemic; household expenditure; Czech Republic
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Copyright © 2026 Martin Vyroubal, Oldřich Racek, Lukáš Kozáček, Jakub Kadlec, Šimon Salaj