Uncovering Peer Effects in Social and Academic Skills
American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
vol. 15,
no. 3, July 2023
(pp. 35-79)
Abstract
This paper studies the impact of adolescent peers who are central in their social network on the formation of social skills and academic performance of fellow students. I conduct a novel large-scale field experiment at selective public boarding schools in Peru with two treatments: (i) more socially central versus less socially central peers, and (ii) higher-achieving versus lower-achieving peers. Peer effects are more pronounced for social skills than academic performance, and both vary by gender. While socially central peers lead boys to better social skills, higher-achieving peers decrease girls' test scores. Gender differences in self-confidence can explain both findings.Citation
Zárate, Román Andrés. 2023. "Uncovering Peer Effects in Social and Academic Skills." American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 15 (3): 35-79. DOI: 10.1257/app.20210583Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- C93 Field Experiments
- I21 Analysis of Education
- I26 Returns to Education
- J13 Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
- J16 Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
- O15 Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
- Z13 Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification
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