Determinants of Peer Selection

Lukas Kiessling, Jonas Radbruch (radbruch@iza.org) and Sebastian Schaube (sebastian.schaube@uni-bonn.de)

CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series from University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany

Abstract: Peers influence behavior in many domains. We study whom individuals choose as peers and explore individual determinants of peer selection. Using data from a framed field experiment at secondary schools, we analyze how peer choices depend on relative performance, personality differences, and the presence of friendship ties. Our results document systematic patterns of peer choice: friendship is the most important determinant, albeit not the only one. Individuals exhibit homophily in personality, and prefer on average similar but slightly stronger performing peers. Our results help to rationalize models of differential and non-linear peer effects and to understand reference group formation.

Keywords: Peer Effects; Peer Selection; Social Comparison; Reference Points (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C93 D01 D03 J24 L23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 49
Date: 2019-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp, nep-hrm and nep-ure
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bon:boncrc:crctr224_2019_092

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