The Visible Hand: Finger Ratio (2D:4D) and Competitive Behavior

Matthew Pearson and Burkhard Schipper

No 66, Working Papers from University of California, Davis, Department of Economics

Abstract: In an experiment using two-bidder first-price sealed bid auctions with symmetric independent private values, we scan also the right hand of each subject. We study how the ratio of the length of the index and ring fingers (2D:4D) of the right hand, a measure of prenatal hormone exposure, is correlated with bidding behavior and total profits. 2D:4D has been reported to predict competitiveness in sports competition (Manning and Taylor, 2001, and Honekopp, Manning and Muller, 2006), risk aversion in an investment task (Dreber and Hoffman, 2007), and the average profitability of high-frequency traders in financial markets (Coates, Gurnell and Rustichini, 2009). We do not find any significant correlation between 2D:4D and both bidding or profits. Yet, our study raises an issue of ethnic differences with respect to 2D:4D.

Keywords: Hormones; Digit ratio; 2D:4D; Risk behavior; Competition; Competitive behavior; Bidding; Endocrinological economics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C72 C91 C92 D44 D81 D87 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 14
Date: 2009-08-11
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Working Paper: The Visible Hand: Finger ratio (2D:4D) and competitive behavior (2009)
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