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• 05 Mar 09
  

  Iria Puyosa

  Calvó-Armengol, Antoni
  Patacchini, Eleonora
  Zenou, Yves
  Publication Date: November 2008
  Keyword(s): centrality measure , peer influence , network structure , school performance
  Programme Areas: Labour Economics
  
  This paper studies whether structural properties of friendship networks affect individual outcomes in education. We first develop a model that shows that, at the Nash equilibrium, the outcome of each individual embedded in a network is proportional to her Katz-Bonacich centrality measure. This measure takes into account both direct and indirect friends of each individual but puts less weight to her distant friends. We then bring the model to the data by using a very detailed dataset of adolescent friendship networks. We show that, after controlling for observable individual characteristics and unobservable network specific factors, the individual's position in a network (as measured by her Katz-Bonacich centrality) is a key determinant of her level of activity. A standard deviation increase in the Katz-Bonacich centrality increases the pupil school performance by more than 7 percent of one standard deviation.

  peer influence social networks educational outcomes

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    DP7060    Peer Effects and Social Networks in Education

    Author(s):        Antoni Calv�-Armengol      ,   Eleonora Patacchini     ,   Yves Zenou

    Publication Date:       November 2008

    Keyword(s):        centrality measure      ,   peer influence     ,   network structure     ,   school performance

    JEL(s):        A14      , C31     , C72

    Programme Areas:        Labour Economics

    Link to this Page:      www.cepr.org/pubs/dps/DP7060.asp.asp

    This paper studies whether structural properties of friendship networks affect individual outcomes in education. We first develop a model that shows that, at the Nash equilibrium, the outcome of each individual embedded in a network is proportional to her Katz-Bonacich centrality measure. This measure takes into account both direct and indirect friends of each individual but puts less weight to her distant friends. We then bring the model to the data by using a very detailed dataset of adolescent friendship networks. We show that, after controlling for observable individual characteristics and unobservable network specific factors, the individual's position in a network (as measured by her Katz-Bonacich centrality) is a key determinant of her level of activity. A standard deviation increase in the Katz-Bonacich centrality increases the pupil school performance by more than 7 percent of one standard deviation.

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