Homophily and Transmission of Behavioral Traits in Social Networks

Palaash Bhargava, Daniel L. Chen, Matthias Sutter and Camille Terrier
Additional contact information
Palaash Bhargava: Columbia University
Daniel L. Chen: Toulouse School of Economics
Matthias Sutter: Max-Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods Bonn, University of Cologne and University of Innsbruck IZA Bonn,CESifoMunich

No 227, ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series from University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany

Abstract: Social networks are segmented on gender, ethnicity, and other demographic characteristics. We present evidence on an understudied source of homophily: behavioral traits. Based on unique data from incentivized experiments with more than 2,500 French high-school students, we find high levels of homophily across ten behavioral traits. Notably, homophily depends on similarities in demographic characteristics, in particular gender. Using network econometrics, we show that homophily is not only an outcome of endogenous network formation, but also driven by peer effects. The latter are larger when students share demographic characteristics, have longer periods of friendship, or are friends with more popular individuals.

Keywords: Homophily; social networks; behavioral traits; peer effects; experiments (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C91 D01 D85 D90 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 59 pages
Date: 2023-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-des, nep-eur, nep-evo, nep-exp, nep-net, nep-soc and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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https://www.econtribute.de/RePEc/ajk/ajkdps/ECONtribute_227_2023.pdf First version, 2023 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: Homophily and Transmission of Behavioral Traits in Social Networks (2023)
Working Paper: Homophily and Transmission of Behavioral Traits in Social Networks (2023)
Working Paper: Homophily and Transmission of Behavioral Traits in Social Networks (2022)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ajk:ajkdps:227

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