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Peer and parental influence in the development of cognitive skills and predispostion to risky behaviour

Author

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  • Ana Balsa
  • Néstor Gandelman
  • Flavia Roldán

Abstract

This paper analyzes the strategic interactions between peers and parents in the development of adolescent’s cognitive skills and non-cognitive skills, as proxied by the predisposition to use substances. We estimate a technology of skill formation that identifies peer effects on the basis of quasi-random assignment of students across classes, time varying data, and the use of instrumental variables. We find that both peer and parental socialization efforts have a positive influence over adolescents’ academic skills, and that these effects are complementary: as peers get better academically, parents invest more. We do not find, however, linear-in-means peer or parental effects on the predisposition to use substances.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Balsa & Néstor Gandelman & Flavia Roldán, 2017. "Peer and parental influence in the development of cognitive skills and predispostion to risky behaviour," Documentos de Trabajo/Working Papers 1701, Facultad de Ciencias Empresariales y Economia. Universidad de Montevideo..
    • Handle: RePEc:mnt:wpaper:1701
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    cognitive and non-cognitive skills; peer effects; parenting; adolescents.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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