Self-control and peer groups: An empirical analysis

Citation

Battaglini, Marco; Díaz, Carlos; & Patacchini, Eleonora (2017). Self-control and peer groups: An empirical analysis. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization. vol. 134 pp. 240-254

Abstract

We exploit the exogenous variation in peer groups generated by high school to college transitions to study the theoretical predictions of Battaglini et al.’s (2005) model of self-control in peer groups. We find evidence consistent with the two key predictions of this theory regarding the relationship between an agent's expected level of self-control and the size and composition of his or her social circles: (i) students embedded in social circles have more self-control than those who are alone and their self-control is increasing in the size of their social group; (ii) students’ self-control is, however, a non-monotonic hump-shaped function of the average self-control of their friends.

URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2016.12.018

Keyword(s)

Peer effects Self-control

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization

Author(s)

Battaglini, Marco
Díaz, Carlos
Patacchini, Eleonora

Year Published

2017

Volume Number

134

Pages

240-254

Edition

December 25, 2016

DOI

10.1016/j.jebo.2016.12.018

Reference ID

9158