Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics
Working Papers in Economics,
University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics
No 750: The digit ratio (2D:4D) and economic preferences: no robust associations in a sample of 330 women
Elle Parslow, Eva Ranehill, Niklas Zethraeus, Liselott Blomberg, Bo von Schoultz, Angelica Lindén Hirschberg, Magnus Johannesson and Anna Dreber ()
Additional contact information
Eva Ranehill: Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University, Postal: P.O. Box 640, SE 40530 GÖTEBORG, Sweden
Anna Dreber: Department of Economics, Stockholm School of Economics, Postal: Department of Economics, Stockholm School of Economics,P.O Box 6501,SE-11383 Stockholm,Sweden.
Abstract: Many studies report on the association between 2D:4D, a putative marker for prenatal testosterone exposure, and economic preferences. However, most of these studies have limited sample sizes and test multiple hypotheses (without preregistration). In this study we mainly replicate the common specifications found in the literature for the association between the 2D:4D ratio and risk taking, the willingness to compete, and dictator game giving separately. In a sample of 330 women we find no robust associations between any of these economic preferences and 2D:4D. We find no evidence of an effect for sixteen of the eighteen total regressions we run. The two regression specifications which are significant have not previously been reported and the associations are not in the expected direction, and therefore they are unlikely to represent a real effect.
Keywords: economic preferences; experiment; testosterone
22 pages, February 2019
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