Measuring Peer Effects on Youth Smoking Behaviour

S-Tier
Journal: Review of Economic Studies
Year: 2007
Volume: 74
Issue: 3
Pages: 897-935

Score contribution per author:

8.043 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This paper examines the role of peer effects in teenagers' smoking behaviour in the U.S.A. I present a random utility model that incorporates complementarity between individual and peer smoking. A Markov process model of smoking interactions between individuals is presented. I estimate the structural parameters of the model using a steady-state distribution that is determined by the Markov process. The empirical results strongly support the presence of positive peer effects. Interestingly, peer interactions are found to be stronger within the same gender than across genders. The same result is found for race. Moreover, a multiplier effect is found. Copyright 2007, Wiley-Blackwell.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:restud:v:74:y:2007:i:3:p:897-935
Journal Field
General
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-26