When Should I Quit? Gender Differences in Exiting Competitions

54 Pages Posted: 17 May 2010

See all articles by Robin M. Hogarth

Robin M. Hogarth

Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Faculty of Economic and Business Sciences

Natalia Karelaia

INSEAD - Decision Sciences

Carlos Andres Trujillo

Universidad de los Andes, Colombia - School of Business Administration

Date Written: May 17, 2010

Abstract

We study the gender gap in a competitive environment by exploiting the “naturalistic experiment” of a TV game show with self-selected participants and no gender-specific constraints nor discrimination. Games consist of multiple rounds where contestants answer general knowledge questions privately. One participant is eliminated or leaves voluntarily at the end of each round. Women earn 40% less than men and exit the game at a faster rate, but especially when in a minority. This latter result highlights the importance of structural arrangements in organizations that interact with behavior to maintain “glass ceilings” and explains the differential gender-related risk attitudes observed.

Keywords: Discrimination, TV Game Shows, Gender Differences, Glass Ceilings, Minority Behaviors

Suggested Citation

Hogarth, Robin M. and Karelaia, Natalia and Trujillo, Carlos Andres, When Should I Quit? Gender Differences in Exiting Competitions (May 17, 2010). INSEAD Working Paper No. 2010/37/DS, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1609724 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1609724

Robin M. Hogarth (Contact Author)

Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Faculty of Economic and Business Sciences ( email )

Ramon Trias Fargas 25-27
Barcelona, 08005
Spain
34 93 542 2561 (Phone)
34 93 542 1746 (Fax)

Natalia Karelaia

INSEAD - Decision Sciences ( email )

United States

Carlos Andres Trujillo

Universidad de los Andes, Colombia - School of Business Administration ( email )

Calle 21 No. 1-20 SD Building
Bogota
Colombia

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