Do Gender Differences in Preferences for Competition Matter for Occupational Expectations?

Kristin Kleinjans

Economics Working Papers from Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University

Abstract: Occupational segregation by gender is prevalent and can explain some of the gender wage gap. I empirically investigate a possible explanation for this segregation: the gender difference in preferences for competition, which in recent experimental studies has been found to affect economic outcomes. I find that women’s greater distaste for competition decreases educational achievement. It can also explain part of the gender segregation in occupational fields. Specifically, accounting for distaste for competition reduces gender segregation in the fields of Law, Business & Management, Health, and Education.

Keywords: competition; gender differences; occupational choice; expectations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D84 I21 J16 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 25
Date: 2008-09-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-bec, nep-edu, nep-lab and nep-ltv
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (28)

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