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Coordination and Contagion: Individual Connections and Peer Mechanisms in a Randomized Field Experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Philip Babcock

    (Department of Economics, University of California, Santa Barbara)

  • Kelly Bedard

    (Department of Economics, University of California, Santa Barbara)

  • Stefanie Fischer

    (Department of Economics, California Polytechnic State University)

  • John Hartman

    (Department of Economics, University of California, Santa Barbara)

Abstract

This paper investigates peer effects at the level of individual connections, leveraging the approach to shed light on peer mechanisms. In a field experiment using college freshmen, we elicited best friends and offered monetary incentives for gym visits to a treated subset. We find large spillovers from treated subjects to treated best friends but none from treated subjects to control best friends. We also find evidence of a mechanism: Subjects coordinate by visiting the gym with best friends, indicating that the intervention harnesses complementarities in utility or commitment mechanisms. Results highlight subtle peer effects and mechanisms that often go undetected.

Suggested Citation

  • Philip Babcock & Kelly Bedard & Stefanie Fischer & John Hartman, 2019. "Coordination and Contagion: Individual Connections and Peer Mechanisms in a Randomized Field Experiment," Working Papers 1904, California Polytechnic State University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpl:wpaper:1904
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    3. Alexandra de Gendre & Nicolás Salamanca, 2020. "On the Mechanisms of Ability Peer Effects," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2020n19, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.

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