The economic consequences of being left-handed: some sinister results

Kevin Denny

Open Access publications from School of Economics, University College Dublin

Abstract: This paper provides the first estimates of the effects of handedness on hourly earnings. Augmenting a conventional earnings equation with an indicator of left handedness shows there is a well determined positive effect on male earnings with non-manual workers enjoying a slightly larger premium. These results are inconsistent with the view that lefthanders in general are in some sense handicapped either innately or through experiencing a world geared towards right-handers. It is consistent with some psychological evidence which suggests that lefthanders have particular talents such as enhanced creativity. The results for females however reveal the opposite, left-handed females are paid significantly less.

Keywords: Earnings; Brain; Left-handed; Laterality; Left- and right-handedness; Wages (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2004
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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http://hdl.handle.net/10197/171 First version, 2004 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: The economic consequences of being left-handed: some sinister results (2006)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ucn:oapubs:10197/171

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