Research Papers in Economics, Department of Economics, Stockholm University
No 2009:15:
Constructing Gender in the Economics Lab
Anne Boschini ()
, Astri Muren ()
and Mats Persson ()
Abstract: Several experimental studies on altruism have found women
to be more generous than men. We investigate whether observed gender gaps
in generosity can be explained by experimental setting, where some settings
are more conducive than others to activating gender identity and social
norms. In a dictator game we study priming along two dimensions: 1) some
subjects enter their gender on the first page of the questionnaire (Pre)
while others enter their gender on the last page (Post) and 2) some
subjects are seated in single-sex rooms (Homogeneous) while others are
seated in gender-mixed rooms (Mixed). It turns out that gender differences
occur (women are more generous than men) only for the combination Pre and
Mixed. The effect is driven by males: men are sensitive to priming, while
women are not.
Keywords: Gender roles; social norms; altruism; generosity; dictator game; priming; (follow links to similar papers)
JEL-Codes: C91; D64; J16; (follow links to similar papers)
50 pages, July 25, 2009
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