Image concerns in ex-ante self-assessments–Gender differences and behavioral consequences

Simone Haeckl

Labour Economics, 2022, vol. 76, issue C

Abstract: While differences in confidence have been identified as a driver behind gender gaps in the labor market, less is known about the moderators of these differences. This paper uses a laboratory experiment to investigate how the image concerns related to the self-assessment affect male and female confidence. Subjects assess their relative performance prior to a real-effort task and can subsequently adjust their efforts. I find that women increase their self-assessment when it is made public, but only if the actual placement remains private. There are no effects for men. I also investigate whether subjects who ex ante overstate their ability provide more effort. I find no evidence of such a motivational effect.

Keywords: Bias; Gender; Overconfidence; Real-effort experiment; Self-assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C91 D91 J16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:labeco:v:76:y:2022:i:c:s0927537122000586

DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2022.102166

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