Gender Gaps in Competition: New Experimental Evidence from UK Professionals

21 Pages Posted: 9 Jun 2020

See all articles by Sophie Clot

Sophie Clot

University of Reading

Marina Della Giusta

University of Reading - Department of Economics; IZA

Giovanni Razzu

University of Reading

Abstract

We use a controlled experiment widely adopted in the literature to assess the extent of gender differences in attitudes towards competition in a sample of UK professionals working in two different companies. We find no gender differences in attitudes towards competition nor in performance under a competitive reward scheme. This results qualifies the findings of a large number of experimental studies that show that women are more likely than men to shy away from competition. We also find that, in our sample of professionals, women's performance under competitive schemes does not decline. We conclude that it is important to avoid generalisations on the presence of gender gaps in attitudes towards competition. This being the first field study with professional workers in relatively competitive sectors, we think more needs to be carried out.

Keywords: gender, competition, field experiment

JEL Classification: C93, J16, J71

Suggested Citation

Clot, Sophie and Della Giusta, Marina and Razzu, Giovanni, Gender Gaps in Competition: New Experimental Evidence from UK Professionals. IZA Discussion Paper No. 13323, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3620638 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3620638

Sophie Clot (Contact Author)

University of Reading ( email )

Whiteknights
Reading, RG6 6AH
United Kingdom

Marina Della Giusta

University of Reading - Department of Economics ( email )

Whiteknights
Reading, RG6 6AH
United Kingdom
+44 (0)118 378 5068 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: hhttp://www.reading.ac.uk/hedgehogs/about/staff/m-DellaGiusta.aspx

IZA ( email )

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Giovanni Razzu

University of Reading ( email )

Whiteknights
Reading, Berkshire RG6 6AH
United Kingdom

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