<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This article studies peer effects on the decision to enroll at university. To determine the social influence of peers, we use a measure encompassing the two major dimensions of social influence in the classroom: the ability and capacity of peers to exchange information about study options. This paper uses French administrative data on the universe of first year applicants to a single university over seven consecutive cohorts. We exploit idiosyncratic variations in the proportion of peers advised to change their educational choice. We find that our variable of interest has a small but negative and significant effect on the individual decision to attend university and observe stronger peer effects among groups of students of similar gender or socio-economic background. We also find a weaker impact of the proportion of peers advised to change their educational choice on the individuals of higher level of academic ability.</p>
</abstract>

This article studies peer effects on the decision to enroll at university. To determine the social influence of peers, we use a measure encompassing the two major dimensions of social influence in the classroom: the ability and capacity of peers to exchange information about study options. This paper uses French administrative data on the universe of first year applicants to a single university over seven consecutive cohorts. We exploit idiosyncratic variations in the proportion of peers advised to change their educational choice. We find that our variable of interest has a small but negative and significant effect on the individual decision to attend university and observe stronger peer effects among groups of students of similar gender or socio-economic background. We also find a weaker impact of the proportion of peers advised to change their educational choice on the individuals of higher level of academic ability.

Enrolling at university and the social influence of peers

Universite Toulouse 1 Capitole Toulouse (Toulouse School of Economics)

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Enrolling at university and the social influence of peers"}

This article studies peer effects on the decision to enroll at university. To determine the social influence of peers, we use a measure encompassing the two...

Enrolling at university and the social influence of peers

Published Online: Feb 01, 2022

Page range: -

Accepted: Nov 02, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/izajole-2022-0001

Keywords
peer effects, higher education, university enrollment

© 2022 Nicolas Pistolesi, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Enrolling at university and the social influence of peers

Published Online: Feb 01, 2022

Page range: -

Accepted: Nov 02, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/izajole-2022-0001

Keywordspeer effects, higher education, university enrollment

© 2022 Nicolas Pistolesi, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
peer effects, higher education, university enrollment