Peer effects in bedtime decisions among adolescents: a social network model with sampled data

Econom J. 2017 Oct;20(3):S103-S125. doi: 10.1111/ectj.12072. Epub 2017 Jan 5.

Abstract

Using unique information on a representative sample of US teenagers, we investigate peer effects in adolescent bedtime decisions. We extend the nonlinear least-squares estimator for spatial autoregressive models to estimate network models with network fixed effects and sampled observations on the dependent variable. We show the extent to which neglecting the sampling issue yields misleading inferential results. When accounting for sampling, we find that, besides the individual, family and peer characteristics, the bedtime decisions of peers help to shape one's own bedtime decision.

Keywords: Missing data; Nonlinear least‐squares; Social interactions; Spatial autoregressive model.