Stephanie Lyk-Jensen

Thematic seminars
Economic theory seminar

Stephanie Lyk-Jensen

SFI - Danish National Centre for social research
Brothers in arms: Spillovers from a draft lottery
Venue

VC Salle A

Centre de la Vieille-Charité - Salle A

Centre de la Vieille Charité
2 rue de la Charité
13002 Marseille

Date(s)
Thursday, September 22 2016| 12:00pm to 1:15pm
Contact(s)

Ugo Bolletta: ugo.bolletta[at]univ-amu.fr
Mathieu Faure: mathieu.faure[at]univ-amu.fr

Abstract

Disentangling shared genetics and environments from family members influence is difficult. This paper estimates sibling spillovers by exploiting a double random assignment in a decision that has life-long implications: military service. Our results provide new and rare evidence on the importance of family networks. We find that having an elder brother inducted into the military increases the younger brother’s service probability by 8 percent. This substantial spillover effect runs only from the elder to the younger brother. The most likely mechanism is the information channel, in which interpersonal dominance plays a role.