The Influence of Classmates on Adolescent Criminal Activities in the United States |
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Authors: | Jinho Kim Jason M Fletcher |
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Institution: | University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA |
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Abstract: | This article examines the effect of delinquent peers on an individual’s criminal activity by leveraging quasi-experimental variation in exposure to peers, separating confounding and causal effects. In particular, we examine the role of wider peer networks (i.e., classmates) as a critical source of influence on adolescents’ delinquent behavior. Using a combined instrumental variables/fixed effects methodology, we address important methodological challenges in estimating peer effects. Results suggest that increasing the proportion of peers who engage in criminal activities by 5% will increase the likelihood an individual engages in criminal activities by 3 percentage points. |
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