Titolo Local externalities in real-world networks: does network topology matter? Periodico Rivista italiana degli economisti Anno: 2009 - Volume: 14 - Fascicolo: 2 - Pagina iniziale: 293 - Pagina finale: 310
In this paper we relate a particular form of social interactions, i.e. peer group influences, to the structure of the network from which they originate. Using an extremely detailed dataset on friendship relationships between students from US school, we find evidence suggesting that the topology of the networks of social contacts among teenagers might be an important actor in shaping their education achievement.