Gender differentiation in risk-taking behavior: On the relative risk aversion of single men and single women

Arbeitspapier

We relate an observed difference between single men (SM) and single women (SW) in attitudes towards risk to the higher value assigned to social status by SM than by SW. In the marriage market, low status carries a harsher penalty for SM than for SW because when selecting a partner, the social status of a man is more important to a woman than the social status of a woman is to a man. Correlating social status with relative wealth, we show how intensified distaste at experiencing low relative wealth reduces relative risk aversion.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: ZEF Discussion Papers on Development Policy ; No. 206

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty ; Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions ; Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
• Subject: risk-taking behavior ; gender-based difference in risk aversion ; relative wealth deprivation ; social status ; marriage market outcome

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Stark, Oded ; Zawojska, Ewa
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2015

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/125165
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET