Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP17636
Authors: Patricia Cortes; Gizem Kosar; Jessica Pan; Basit Zafar
Abstract: We study how peer beliefs shape individual attitudes toward maternal labor supply using realistic hypothetical scenarios that elicit recommendations on the labor supply choices of a mother with a young child and an information treatment embedded within representative surveys. Across the scenarios, we find that individuals systematically overestimate the extent of gender conservativeness of the people around them. Exposure to information on peer beliefs leads to a shift in recommendations, driven largely by information-based belief updating. The information treatment also increases (intended and actual) donations to a non-profit organization advocating for women in the workplace.
Keywords: norms
JEL Codes: J16; J22
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| peer beliefs (C92) | individual attitudes toward maternal labor supply (J22) |
| misperceptions about gender norms (J16) | recommendations for mothers regarding employment (J22) |
| information treatment (D83) | individual attitudes toward maternal labor supply (J22) |
| information treatment (D83) | recommendations for mothers regarding employment (J22) |
| relative earnings of spouses (J31) | impact of information treatment on recommendations (D80) |
| information treatment (D83) | intended donations to nonprofit advocating for women's workplace participation (D64) |