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The Baking of Preferences throughout the High School

Author

Listed:
  • Antonio Alfonso

    (LoyolaBehLab/Universidad Loyola Andalucía)

  • Pablo Brañas-Garza

    (LoyolaBehLab/Universidad Loyola Andalucía)

  • Diego Jorrat

    (LoyolaBehLab/Universidad Loyola Andalucía)

  • Benjamín Prissé

    (Singapore University of Technology and Design)

  • María José Vázquez-De Francisco

    (Fundación ETEA-Development Institute/Universidad Loyola Andalucía)

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine whether girls and boys exhibit different risk and timepreferences and how this difference evolves during the critical phase of adolescence. To achievethis, we use a large and powered sample of 4830 non-self-selected teenagers from 207 classesacross 22 Spanish schools with very different socioeconomic backgrounds. Alongside time andrisk preferences, we also collected additional information about class attributes, social networkmeasures, students’ characteristics, and the average level of economic preferences of friends.These measures enable us to account for potentially omitted variables that were not consideredin previous studies. The results indicate that there are no significant gender differences intime and risk preferences, but older subjects exhibit more sophisticated time preferences andhigher risk aversion. We also perform an exploratory heterogeneity analysis, which unveils twoimportant results: first, cognitive abilities play a critical role in the development of time andrisk preferences; second, interaction within the class social network does matter.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio Alfonso & Pablo Brañas-Garza & Diego Jorrat & Benjamín Prissé & María José Vázquez-De Francisco, 2024. "The Baking of Preferences throughout the High School," Working Papers 316, Red Nacional de Investigadores en Economía (RedNIE).
    • Handle: RePEc:aoz:wpaper:316
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    File URL: https://rednie.eco.unc.edu.ar/files/DT/316.pdf
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    Keywords

    Developmental Decision-Making; Field Experiment; Economic Preferences; Teenagers.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty

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