Citation

Kim J, Fletcher JM. Deviant Behav. 2018; 39(3): 275-292.

Affiliation

La Follette School of Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1225 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1211.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/01639625.2016.1269563

PMID

29391657

PMCID

PMC5788185

Abstract

This article examines the effect of delinquent peers on an individual's criminal activity by leveraging quasi-experimental variation in exposure to peers, separating confounding and causal effects. In particular, we examine the role of wider peer networks (i.e., classmates) as a critical source of influence on adolescents' delinquent behavior. Using a combined instrumental variables/fixed effects methodology, we address important methodological challenges in estimating peer effects.

RESULTS suggest that increasing the proportion of peers who engage in criminal activities by 5 percent will increase the likelihood an individual engages in criminal activities by 3 percentage points.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescents; Classmates; Crime; Delinquency; Norms; Peer effects; Social interactions