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Family networks and school choice

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  • Dustan, Andrew

Abstract

This paper uses variation in school assignments generated by Mexico City's public high school choice mechanism to document a strong causal influence of older siblings on their younger siblings' school choice behavior. The effects of older sibling admission on the probabilities of choosing both the sibling's school and distinct but observably similar schools are large and positive, even when siblings are too far apart in age to attend school together. The evidence is more consistent with information transmission and path dependence channels than cost, convenience, sibling competition, or parental pressure. Sibling-induced changes in stated preferences affect admissions outcomes, including assignment to elite schools. The results imply significant externalities from policies such as affirmative action that alter the distribution of school assignments, as well as providing insight into the role of family networks in decision-making regarding educational investments.

Suggested Citation

  • Dustan, Andrew, 2018. "Family networks and school choice," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 372-391.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:134:y:2018:i:c:p:372-391
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2018.06.004
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    3. Adam Altmejd & Andrés Barrios-Fernández & Marin Drlje & Joshua Goodman & Michael Hurwitz & Dejan Kovac & Christine Mulhern & Christopher Neilson & Jonathan Smith, 2021. "O Brother, Where Start Thou? Sibling Spillovers on College and Major Choice in Four Countries," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 136(3), pages 1831-1886.
    4. García, Gustavo A. & Ramírez-Hassan, Andrés & Saravia, Estefanía & Vargas, Raquel & Duque, Juan Fernando & Londoño, Daniel, 2022. "Impacto del programa de subsidios en el transporte escolar en Medellín (Colombia) como herramientas para reducir la exclusión social," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 12013, Inter-American Development Bank.
    5. Andrés Barrios-Fernández, 2022. "Neighbors' Effects on University Enrollment," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 14(3), pages 30-60, July.
    6. Gordon B. Dahl & Dan-Olof Rooth & Anders Stenberg, 2020. "Intergenerational and Sibling Spillovers in High School Majors," NBER Working Papers 27618, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Joshua Goodman & Michael Hurwitz & Christine Mulhern & Jonathan Smith, 2019. "O Brother, Where Start Thou? Sibling Spillovers in College Enrollment," NBER Working Papers 26502, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Christopher Neilson & Adam Altmejd & Andres Barrios-Fernandez & Marin Drlje & Dejan Kovac, 2019. "Siblings' Effects on College and Major Choices: Evidence from Chile, Croatia and Sweden," Working Papers 633, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section..
    9. Crudu, Federico & Neri, Laura & Tiezzi, Silvia, 2021. "Family ties and child obesity in Italy," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 40(C).
    10. Marin Drlje & Stepan Jurajda, 2021. "LATE Estimators under Costly Non-compliance in Student-College Matching Markets," CERGE-EI Working Papers wp686, The Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education - Economics Institute, Prague.
    11. Aguirre, Josefa & Matta, Juan, 2021. "Walking in your footsteps: Sibling spillovers in higher education choices," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    12. Avdeev, Stanislav & Ketel, Nadine & Oosterbeek, Hessel & van der Klaauw, Bas, 2023. "Spillovers in Fields of Study: Siblings, Cousins, and Neighbors," IZA Discussion Papers 16453, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    13. Marin Drlje, 2020. "Identification of School Admission Effects Using Propensity Scores Based on a Matching Market Structure," CERGE-EI Working Papers wp658, The Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education - Economics Institute, Prague.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    School choice; Family networks; Siblings; Regression discontinuity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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