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Heterogeneous peer effects in competitive environments: the case of high-school harriers

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  • Nathan J. Ashby

Abstract

Using exogenous enrolment-based assignments to high school athletic associations, I analyse peer effects in single-sex cross-country running competitions. I find evidence of improvements after promotion to more competitive classifications for boys and the combined sample while detecting evidence of improvement for girls after relegation. Boys in the top quartile and girls in the second lowest quartile demonstrate the largest improvements after being promoted to a higher classification. Two-stage least-squares estimates provide some confirmation of the mechanism through which classification changes impact performance, but identification is complicated by the heterogeneous responses by quartile. Rather than attributing findings to heterogeneous behaviour, the disparity can plausibly be explained by rational responses to heterogeneity in the payoff structure as determined by larger college scholarship opportunities for girls.

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  • Nathan J. Ashby, 2025. "Heterogeneous peer effects in competitive environments: the case of high-school harriers," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(4), pages 557-562, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:apeclt:v:32:y:2025:i:4:p:557-562
    DOI: 10.1080/13504851.2023.2276075
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