The peer effect on the academic performance of rural left-behind children

Fang Chang, Yajie Wang, Yanan Huo, Songyan Zhang, Yi Zhang and Jian Liu

Journal of Asian Economics, 2025, vol. 100, issue C

Abstract: In the context of China’s dual economic structure, rural left-behind children often face prolonged parental absence, increasing their reliance on peer influence. This paper explores peer effects on math achievement using an instrumental variable approach, based on a sample of 2604 rural primary students in Shaanxi province. The results show that peers’ math performance significantly improves left-behind children’s scores by 0.678 standard deviations, with the strongest influence from their first- and second-best friends. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that peer effects are stronger among left-behind girls, non-boarding students, and those with moderate baseline academic performance. Mechanism analysis suggests that peer influence work through enhanced perceptions of mathematics, increased learning confidence, and improved study habits. These findings highlight the need to address educational challenges faced by left-behind children to enhance rural human capital development.

Keywords: Peer effect; Left-behind children; Mathematics achievement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:asieco:v:100:y:2025:i:c:s104900782500106x

DOI: 10.1016/j.asieco.2025.101982

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