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What Should I Aspire To? Peer Effects in Adolescents’ Friendship Networks

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  • Ben D’Exelle
  • Rik Habraken
  • Arjan Verschoor

Abstract

In sub-Saharan Africa, economic aspirations often conflict with aspirations to follow traditional social obligations. We test whether adolescents are influenced by friends when deciding which to prioritize. To do so, we elicit the preferences and perceived competition between economic and social aspirations of 553 Ugandan students, as well as their friendship ties. Using characteristics of nonoverlapping friends as instrumental variables, we identify strong peer effects. They are stronger with more interaction among friends, or when the information shared is more relevant or more important relative to other signals. We find no peer effect on the perceived competition between aspirations.

Suggested Citation

  • Ben D’Exelle & Rik Habraken & Arjan Verschoor, 2023. "What Should I Aspire To? Peer Effects in Adolescents’ Friendship Networks," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 72(1), pages 27-78.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:ecdecc:doi:10.1086/720543
    DOI: 10.1086/720543
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