Raising the Bar: Causal Evidence on Gender Differences in Risk-Taking from a Natural Experiment

René Böheim, Mario Lackner and Wilhelm Wagner
Additional contact information
Wilhelm Wagner: University of Linz

No 12946, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We analyze data from top-tier professional athletes and find that female and male athletes differ in the timing and in the extent of their reactions to a change of the rules which increased the risk of failure. Male athletes increased risk-taking in the more risky environment immediately after the changes. Female athletes, however, increased risk-taking two years after the rule change. Over time, female athletes reverted to pre-reform risk-taking levels and male athletes' continued to make more risky decisions in the new environment. We attribute our findings to gender differences in competitiveness and risk preferences.

Keywords: gender differences; risk-taking; competitiveness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J16 J44 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 20 pages
Date: 2020-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hrm and nep-spo
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Published - published in: Journal of Sports Economics, 2022, 23 (4), 460 - 478

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Related works:
Journal Article: Raising the Bar: Causal Evidence on Gender Differences in Risk-Taking From a Natural Experiment (2022)
Working Paper: Raising the Bar: Causal evidence on gender differences in risk-taking from a natural experiment (2020)
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