Safety Regulation in Professional Football: Empirical Evidence of Intended and Unintended Consequences

Authors

Andrew Hanson, Marquette UniversityFollow
Nicholas A. Jolly, Marquette UniversityFollow
Jeremy Peterson, Marquette University

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Publication Date

5-2017

Publisher

Elsevier

Source Publication

Journal of Health Economics

Source ISSN

0167-6926

Abstract

In response to increasing public awareness and negative long-term health effects of concussions, the National Football League implemented the “Crown-of-the-Helmet Rule” (CHR). The CHR imposes penalties on players who initiate contact using the top of the helmet. This paper examines the intended effect of this policy and its potential for unintended consequences. We find evidence supporting the intended effect of the policy- a reduction in weekly concussion reports among defensive players by as much as 32% (34% for all head and neck injuries), but also evidence of an increase in weekly lower extremity injury reports for offensive players by as much as 34%.

Comments

Accepted version. Journal of Health Economics, Vol. 53 (May 2017): 87-99. DOI. © 2017 Elsevier. Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Hanson, Andrew; Jolly, Nicholas A.; and Peterson, Jeremy, "Safety Regulation in Professional Football: Empirical Evidence of Intended and Unintended Consequences" (2017). Economics Faculty Research and Publications. 559.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/econ_fac/559