Learning from Teen Childbearing Experiences of Close Friends: Evidence Using Miscarriages as a Natural Experiment

Authors

Olga Yakusheva, Marquette UniversityFollow
Jason Fletcher, University of Wisconsin - MadisonFollow

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

15 p.

Publication Date

10-2013

Publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press (MIT Press)

Source Publication

Review of Economics and Statistics

Source ISSN

0034-6535

Original Item ID

doi: 10.1162/REST_a_00423

Abstract

We examine peer effects in teen childbearing among close friends, using miscarriages as a natural experiment. We use 775 women from the core sample of Add Health who had a friend with a teen pregnancy. We find a sizable negative treatment effect – a close friend's teen birth is associated with a 6 percentage point reduction in the likelihood of own teen pregnancy and childbearing. There is evidence that this effect operates through a learning mechanism by changing beliefs regarding early childbearing. Effects of teen pregnancy prevention policies may be partially offset by reductions in the opportunities for social learning.

Comments

Published version. Review of Economics and Statistics (October 2013). DOI. © 2013 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press (MIT Press). Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Yakusheva, Olga and Fletcher, Jason, "Learning from Teen Childbearing Experiences of Close Friends: Evidence Using Miscarriages as a Natural Experiment" (2013). Economics Faculty Research and Publications. 386.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/econ_fac/386