Measuring peer effects on youth smoking behaviour

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Nakajima, Ryo
• 署名单位: University of Tsukuba
• 刊物名称: REVIEW OF ECONOMIC STUDIES
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0034-6527
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-937X.2007.00448.x
• 发表日期: 2007
• 页码: 897-935
• 关键词: local interaction; monte-carlo; identification; models; school; price

摘要

This paper examines the role of peer effects in teenagers' smoking behaviour in the U.S.A. I present a random utility model that incorporates complementarity between individual and peer smoking. A Markov process model of smoking interactions between individuals is presented. I estimate the structural parameters of the model using a steady-state distribution that is determined by the Markov process. The empirical results strongly support the presence of positive peer effects. Interestingly, peer interactions are found to be stronger within the same gender than across genders. The same result is found for race. Moreover, a multiplier effect is found.