Social Networks and the Aggregation on Individual Decisions / D. Lee Heavner, Lance Lochner.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Heavner, D. Lee.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Lochner, Lance.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w8979.

NBER working paper series no. w8979

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2002.

Summary:

This paper analyzes individual decisions to participate in an activity and the aggregation of those decisions when individuals gather information about the outcomes and choices of (a few) others in their social network. In this environment, aggregate participation rates are generally inefficient. Increasing the size of social networks does not necessarily increase efficiency and can lead to less efficient long-run outcomes. Both subsidies for participation and penalties for non-participation can increase participation rates, though not necessarily by the same amount. Punishing non-participation has much greater effects on participation rates than rewarding participation when current rates are very low. A program that provides youth with mentors who have participated themselves can increase participation rates, especially when those rates are low. Finally, communities plagued by the flight of successful participants will experience lower short- and long-run participation rates.

Notes:

Print version record

June 2002.