Raising the bar: Causal evidence on gender differences in risk-taking from a natural experiment

Arbeitspapier

We analyze data from top-tier professional athletes and find that female and male athletes differ in the timing and in the extent of their reactions to a change of the rules which increased the risk of failure. Male athletes increased risk-taking in the more risky environment immediately after the changes. Female athletes, however, increased risk-taking two years after the rule change. Over time, female athletes reverted to pre-reform risk-taking levels and male athletes' continued to make more risky decisions in the new environment. We attribute our findings to gender differences in competitiveness and risk preferences.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Working Paper ; No. 2001

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination ; Professional Labor Markets; Occupational Licensing
• Subject: Competitiveness ; risk-taking ; gender differences

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Böheim, René ; Lackner, Mario ; Wagner, Wilhelm
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Johannes Kepler University of Linz, Department of Economics
• (where): Linz
• (when): 2020

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/246291
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET