TY - JOUR T1 - Rank, Sex, Drugs, and Crime JF - Journal of Human Resources JO - J Hum Resour SP - 356 LP - 381 DO - 10.3368/jhr.53.2.0716-8080R VL - 53 IS - 2 AU - Benjamin Elsner AU - Ingo E. Isphording Y1 - 2018/03/31 UR - http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/53/2/356.abstract N2 - We show that a student’s ordinal ability rank in a high-school cohort is an important determinant of engaging in risky behaviors. Using longitudinal data from representative U.S. high schools, we find a strong negative effect of rank on the likelihood of smoking, drinking, having unprotected sex, and engaging in physical fights. We further provide evidence that these results can be explained by sorting into peer groups and differences in career expectations. Students with a higher rank are less likely to be friends with other students who smoke and drink, while they have higher expectations towards their future educational attainment. ER -