Abstract This paper finds that a student's share of opposite gender school friends negatively affects high school GPA. It uses the gender composition of schoolmates in an individual's neighborhood as an instrument for the gender composition of an individual's self-reported friendship network. The effect occurs across all subjects for students older than 16, but only in mathematics and science for younger students. Additional results indicate effects may operate inside the classroom through difficulties getting along with the teacher and paying attention, and outside the classroom through romantic relationships. (JEL I21, J13, J16)

Citation Hill, Andrew J. 2015. "The Girl Next Door: The Effect of Opposite Gender Friends on High School Achievement." American Economic Journal: Applied Economics , 7 (3): 147-77 . DOI: 10.1257/app.20140030 Choose Format: BibTeX EndNote Refer/BibIX RIS Tab-Delimited