IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/iza/izadps/dp18808.html

Identifying Peer Effects under Reflection: A Panel-Data Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Gong, Xiaodong

    (University of Canberra)

  • Freyens, Benoit

    (University of Canberra)

Abstract

We propose a new approach to identifying peer effects that addresses the reflection problem by using the timing of decisions. The approach combines panel data with the ordering of decisions to separate peer influence from simultaneity. Variation in the order of decisions and in exposure to peers provides the basis for identification, allowing estimation of peer effects in settings where standard approaches are not informative. We illustrate the method using a multi-level panel of more than 2,000 judicial rulings over a 16-year period, where cases are randomly assigned to judges. The data allow us to implement the approach and examine the sources of peer influence. We find heterogeneous and asymmetric responses, with both the magnitude and direction of effects differing across types.

Suggested Citation

  • Gong, Xiaodong & Freyens, Benoit, 2026. "Identifying Peer Effects under Reflection: A Panel-Data Approach," IZA Discussion Papers 18808, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18808
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://docs.iza.org/dp18808.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • C18 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Methodolical Issues: General
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • C81 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Microeconomic Data; Data Access
    • D85 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Network Formation

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18808. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Mark Fallak (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/izaaalu.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.