Gender and the Labor Market: What Have We Learned from Field and Lab Experiments?

Barbara Petrongolo and Ghazala Azmat

No 9972, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: We discuss the contribution of the experimental literature to the understanding of both traditional and previously unexplored dimensions of gender differences and discuss their bearings on labor market outcomes. Experiments have offered new findings on gender discrimination, and while they have identified a bias against hiring women in some labor market segments, the discrimination detected in field experiments is less pervasive than that implied by the regression approach. Experiments have also offered new insights into gender differences in preferences: women appear to gain less from negotiation, have lower preferences than men for risk and competition, and may be more sensitive to social cues. These gender differences in preferences also have implications in group settings, whereby the gender composition of a group affects team decisions and performance. Most of the evidence on gender traits comes from the lab, and key open questions remain as to the source of gender preferences?nature versus nurture, or their interaction?and their role, if any, in the workplace.

Keywords: Discrimination; Field experiments; Gender; Gender preferences; Lab experiments (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C91 C92 C93 J16 J24 J71 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp, nep-hme and nep-hrm
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (270)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Gender and the labor market: What have we learned from field and lab experiments? (2014)
Working Paper: Gender and the Labor Market: What Have We Learned from Field and Lab Experiments? (2014)
Working Paper: Gender and the labor market: what have we learned from field and lab experiments? (2014)
Working Paper: Gender and the Labor Market: What Have We Learned from Field and Lab Experiments? (2014)
Working Paper: Gender and the Labor Market: What Have We Learned from Field and Lab Experiments? (2014)
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