The Girl Next Door: The Effect of Opposite Gender Friends on High School Achievement

A-Tier
Journal: American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
Year: 2015
Volume: 7
Issue: 3
Pages: 147-77

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

This paper finds that a student's share of opposite gender school friends negatively affects high school GPA. It uses the gender composition of schoolmates in an individual's neighborhood as an instrument for the gender composition of an individual's self-reported friendship network. The effect occurs across all subjects for students older than 16, but only in mathematics and science for younger students. Additional results indicate effects may operate inside the classroom through difficulties getting along with the teacher and paying attention, and outside the classroom through romantic relationships. (JEL I21, J13, J16)

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aejapp:v:7:y:2015:i:3:p:147-77
Journal Field
General
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-02-02