Peer effects in sexual initiation: Separating demand and supply mechanisms

Artikel

Most work on social interactions studies a single, composite effect of interactions within a group. Yet in the case of sexual initiation, there are two distinct social mechanisms—peer-group norms and partner availability—with separate effects and different potential interventions. Here I develop an equilibrium search and matching model for first sexual partners that specifies distinct roles for these two mechanisms as part of demand and supply. I estimate the model using a national sample of high school students, with data over time on individual virginity status. The results indicate that peer-group norms have a large effect on the timing of sexual initiation for both boys and girls. Changes in opposite-gender search behavior (i.e., partner availability) also have a large impact on initiation rates for boys, but not for girls.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Journal: Quantitative Economics ; ISSN: 1759-7331 ; Volume: 6 ; Year: 2015 ; Issue: 3 ; Pages: 663-702 ; New Haven, CT: The Econometric Society

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft
• Subject: Social interaction models ; mechanisms ; sexual activity ; youth ; structural estimation

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Richards-Shubik, Seth
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): The Econometric Society
• (where): New Haven, CT
• (when): 2015

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.3982/QE249
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/150397
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET