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Peer Effects on Teenage Fertility: Social Transmission Mechanisms and Policy Recommendations

Author

Listed:
  • Jason M. Fletcher

    (University of Wisconsin–Madison, La Follette School of Public Affairs)

  • Olga Yakusheva

    (University of Michigan School of Nursing)

Abstract

We present instrumental variable results suggesting that the likelihood of having a teenage pregnancy is influenced by peers. We show that the instruments (peer-level teen childbearing of mothers and the average age of menarche) are plausibly exogenous across cohorts of students attending the same school. The estimates are large—a 10 percentage point increase in peer pregnancies is associated with a 2–5 percentage point greater likelihood of own-pregnancy. Peer influence is greater in environments with other policy factors that also increase teenage pregnancy rates and may operate primarily through shaping social norms rather than information or knowledge-sharing mechanisms.

Suggested Citation

  • Jason M. Fletcher & Olga Yakusheva, 2016. "Peer Effects on Teenage Fertility: Social Transmission Mechanisms and Policy Recommendations," American Journal of Health Economics, MIT Press, vol. 2(3), pages 300-317, Summer.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:amjhec:v:2:y:2016:i:3:p:300-317
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    Cited by:

    1. Fang Di & Richards Timothy J. & Grebitus Carola, 2019. "Modeling Product Choices in a Peer Network," Forum for Health Economics & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 22(1), pages 1-13, June.
    2. Santiago Garganta & María Florencia Pinto & Joaquín Zentner, 2023. "Extended School Day and Teenage Fertility in Dominican Republic," CEDLAS, Working Papers 0317, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
    3. Santiago Garganta & Florencia Pinto, 2022. "Extended School Day and Teenage Fertility in Dominican Republic," Asociación Argentina de Economía Política: Working Papers 4565, Asociación Argentina de Economía Política.
    4. Ana Balsa & Carlos Díaz, 2018. "Social interactions in health behaviors and conditions," Documentos de Trabajo/Working Papers 1802, Facultad de Ciencias Empresariales y Economia. Universidad de Montevideo..
    5. Fletcher, Jason M. & Polos, Jessica, 2017. "Nonmarital and Teen Fertility," IZA Discussion Papers 10833, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Nie, Peng & Wang, Lu & Sousa-Poza, Alfonso, 2020. "Peer Effects and Fertility Preferences in China: Evidence from the China Labor-Force Dynamics Survey," IZA Discussion Papers 13448, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    teenage childgearing; peer effects;

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics

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