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CSMGEP Dissertation Session

Paper Session

Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Marriott Philadelphia Downtown, Meeting Room 308
Hosted By: American Economic Association
  • Chair: Kalena E. Cortes, Texas A&M University

Peers and Persuasion Across Collegiate Social Networks

Jakina Debnam
,
Cornell University

Abstract

Using a unique set of text and network data from a social network, this paper measures the persuasiveness of peers’ communications among college undergraduates’ course selection at Cornell University. I use idiosyncratic shocks to students’ information sets to create an instrumental variable and find that while in general, the effect of receiving an additional piece of information about a course is a decrease in the likelihood that a student enrolls in the course, if the message-giver is a peer, the effect of this additional message is up to a 7.4% increase in the likelihood that a student enrolls in that course. This finding is consistent with theories of information aggregation where individuals ‘tag’ information with sources as they incorporate these sources into their final decisions. I support key assumptions using exponential random graph models and in-person survey data which I collected from 112 undergraduate students. To the best of my knowledge, this work is the first in economics to empirically investigate theories of social influence using non-experimental field data.

Impact of Financial Education Mandates on Economically Disadvantaged Students’ Postsecondary Decisions

Melody Harvey
,
Pardee RAND Graduate School

Abstract

Economically disadvantaged students borrow more to finance postsecondary education and attend riskier institutions than their wealthier counterparts. One often discussed policy solution is mandated financial education in schools; however, previous research is mixed as to the success of this mandated education in improving financial capability. Employing data on institutional quality and student finances, I use difference-in-differences to exploit cross-state and student-cohort variation in financial education mandates to assess how these mandates impact postsecondary decisions. I preliminarily find that mandated students made better college and financing decisions than non-mandated students. However, these effects are heterogeneous and are driven by non-disadvantaged students.

The Performance of State Charter Virtual Schools in Georgia

Carycruz M. Bueno
,
Georgia State University

Abstract

Virtual schools’ enrollment has continuously risen in the United States. Although there is an increased demand for virtual schools, the evidence of their success is mixed and little is known about the impact of full-time virtual schools on students’ academic and nonacademic outcomes. This paper addresses the lacuna in the literature by establishing a causal link between student performance and virtual school attendance. I use a longitudinal dataset composed of individual-level information on all public-school students and teachers throughout Georgia. I will implement a variety of regression models that deal with the issue of potential self-selection into virtual schools.

Historical Lynchings and Contemporary Voting Behavior of Blacks

Jhacova Williams
,
Louisiana State University

Abstract

Using contemporary county-level voter registration data, this study examines the extent to which political participation of blacks can be traced to historical lynchings that took place between 1882 and 1930. The results show that southern counties that experienced a higher number of historical lynchings have lower current voter participation among blacks. This relationship holds after accounting for a variety of historical and contemporary characteristics of counties. The results strengthen when lynchings are instrumented with historical measures of environmental suitability for growing cotton.
Discussant(s)
Jeffrey Smith
,
University of Michigan
Brian Jacob
,
University of Michigan
Robert Margo
,
Boston University
Michael Lovenheim
,
Cornell University
JEL Classifications
  • I2 - Education and Research Institutions
  • J1 - Demographic Economics