Other-Regarding Behavior and Behavioral Forecasts: Females Versus Males as Individuals and as Group Representatives

Abstract

Using a dictator game, we examine the other-regarding behavior of allocators who are given the responsibility of unilaterally making an allocation decision without consultation on behalf of a two-person group between their group and another group. We then contrast the behavior of the same individuals in an analogous inter-individual situation. We also explore other-regarding perceptions of passive recipients, who are asked to give behavioral forecasts of how they would behave if assigned the allocator role and how they think their allocators would behave. Gender differences are found in both behavior and perceptions. Males are significantly more self-interested and less other-regarding when they are responsible for a group, while females behave similarly under both conditions. Female recipients' forecasts of their own behavior are significantly higher than both their expectations of allocators and the actual female behavior observed in the experiment. Both male and female recipients underestimate the other-regarding behavior of allocators.

Keywords: Other-regarding behavior, gender, behavioral forecast, perception bias

JEL Classification: A12