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Peer Effects on Teenage Fertility: Social Transmission Mechanisms and Policy Recommendations

Author

Listed:
  • Jason M. Fletcher

    (University of Wisconsin–Madison, La Follette School of Public Affairs)

  • Olga Yakusheva

    (University of Michigan School of Nursing)

Abstract
We present instrumental variable results suggesting that the likelihood of having a teenage pregnancy is influenced by peers. We show that the instruments (peer-level teen childbearing of mothers and the average age of menarche) are plausibly exogenous across cohorts of students attending the same school. The estimates are large—a 10 percentage point increase in peer pregnancies is associated with a 2–5 percentage point greater likelihood of own-pregnancy. Peer influence is greater in environments with other policy factors that also increase teenage pregnancy rates and may operate primarily through shaping social norms rather than information or knowledge-sharing mechanisms.

Suggested Citation

  • Jason M. Fletcher & Olga Yakusheva, 2016. "Peer Effects on Teenage Fertility: Social Transmission Mechanisms and Policy Recommendations," American Journal of Health Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 2(3), pages 300-317, Summer.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:amjhec:v:2:y:2016:i:3:p:300-317
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    File URL: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1162/AJHE_a_00046
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    Cited by:

    1. Maria De Paola & Roberto Nisticò & Vincenzo Scoppa, 2024. "Workplace Peer Effects in Fertility Decisions," CSEF Working Papers 714, Centre for Studies in Economics and Finance (CSEF), University of Naples, Italy.
    2. Fang Di & Richards Timothy J. & Grebitus Carola, 2019. "Modeling Product Choices in a Peer Network," Forum for Health Economics & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 22(1), pages 1-13, June.
    3. Ana Balsa & Carlos Díaz, 2018. "Social interactions in health behaviors and conditions," Documentos de Trabajo/Working Papers 1802, Facultad de Ciencias Empresariales y Economia. Universidad de Montevideo..
    4. Santiago Garganta & María Florencia Pinto & Joaquín Zentner, 2023. "Extended School Day and Teenage Fertility in Dominican Republic," CEDLAS, Working Papers 0317, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
    5. Fletcher, Jason M. & Polos, Jessica, 2017. "Nonmarital and Teen Fertility," IZA Discussion Papers 10833, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Anand, Priyanka & Kahn, Lisa B., 2024. "The effect of a peer’s teen pregnancy on sexual behavior," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    7. Nie, Peng & Wang, Lu & Sousa-Poza, Alfonso, 2020. "Peer Effects and Fertility Preferences in China: Evidence from the China Labor-Force Dynamics Survey," IZA Discussion Papers 13448, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Wozniak, Abigail & Baker, Michael T. & Carter, Susan P., 2024. "Peer Effects and Marriage Formation," IZA Discussion Papers 17443, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Santiago Garganta & Florencia Pinto, 2022. "Extended School Day and Teenage Fertility in Dominican Republic," Asociación Argentina de Economía Política: Working Papers 4565, Asociación Argentina de Economía Política.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    teenage childgearing; peer effects;

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics

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