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Peers' Parents and Educational Attainment: The Exposure Effect

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  • Bobby Chung

    (Clemson University)

Abstract

This paper discusses the `exposure effect' in child development by investigating the extent to which the educational background of peers' parents is related to a child's future college attainment. I analyze the friendship networks of a nationally representative sample of high-school students in the US. To address endogenous friendship formation, I adopt two distinct strategies: a selection correction approach and exploiting within-school cohort variations in parental compositions. I find that peers' academic performance and other observed characteristics, with a rich set of control variables and network fixed effect, do not fully explain the spillover from peers' parents of the same gender. Effects are more prominent for students with a disadvantaged background (those with less-educated parents, single-mother households, and less caring fathers, e.g.). Suggestive evidence is provided to support the role model effect as a plausible channel.

Suggested Citation

  • Bobby Chung, 2018. "Peers' Parents and Educational Attainment: The Exposure Effect," Working Papers 2018-086, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    • Handle: RePEc:hka:wpaper:2018-086
    Note: ECI
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    peers' parents; social interactions; college attainment; childhood exposure;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C11 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Bayesian Analysis: General
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General

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