Testing for Peer Effects Using Genetic Data

John Cawley, Euna Han, Jiyoon (June) Kim and Edward Norton

No 23719, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Estimating peer effects is notoriously difficult because of the reflection problem and the endogeneity of peer group formation. This paper tests for peer effects in obesity in a novel way that addresses these challenges. It addresses the reflection problem by using the alter’s genetic risk score for obesity, which is a significant predictor of obesity, is determined prior to birth, and cannot be affected by the behavior of others. It addresses the endogeneity of peer group formation by examining peers who are not self-selected: full siblings. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health, we find evidence of positive peer effects in weight and obesity; having a sibling with a high genetic predisposition raises one’s risk of obesity, even controlling for one’s own genetic predisposition to obesity. Implications of the findings include that peer effects may be an explanation for continued worldwide increases in weight, and that, because of social multipliers, the cost-effectiveness of obesity treatment and prevention programs may have been underestimated.

JEL-codes: D1 I1 I12 I18 J1 Z18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-net, nep-soc and nep-ure
Note: AG CH EH
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

Published as Cawley, John, Euna Han, Jiyoon Kim, and Edward C. Norton. July 2019. “Testing for Family Influences on Obesity: The Role of Genetic Nurture.” Health Economics, 28(7): 937-952.

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.nber.org/papers/w23719.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: Testing for Peer Effects Using Genetic Data (2018)
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nbr:nberwo:23719

Ordering information: This working paper can be ordered from
http://www.nber.org/papers/w23719

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc National Bureau of Economic Research, 1050 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.. Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by ().