Professor Paul Downward

Professor Downward has wide ranging interests in sport, physical activity and leisure, including research philosophy, methods and ethics of economics.

He is currently embarked on studies of the determinants of sport, physical activity and volunteering, and their impacts on health and wellbeing; social capital, social inclusion and exclusion; and human capital and labour markets.

He is also exploring the consequences of health and wellbeing on personal, social and economic outcomes.

Professor Downward’s research and consultancy have included:

• Evaluating elite player development for England Netball. 
• Exploring the attitudes and impacts of doping in sport across countries for the Japanese Anti-Doping Agency. 
• Identifying the determinants of participation in sports and leisure in the UK, and the role of sports clubs in promoting participation for Sport England. 
• Examining the status and future visions of Sport for All in Europe for the International Olympic Committee.