Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP9972
Authors: Ghazala Azmat; Barbara Petrongolo
Abstract: We discuss the contribution of the experimental literature to the understanding of both traditional and previously unexplored dimensions of gender differences and discuss their bearings on labor market outcomes. Experiments have offered new findings on gender discrimination, and while they have identified a bias against hiring women in some labor market segments, the discrimination detected in field experiments is less pervasive than that implied by the regression approach. Experiments have also offered new insights into gender differences in preferences: women appear to gain less from negotiation, have lower preferences than men for risk and competition, and may be more sensitive to social cues. These gender differences in preferences also have implications in group settings, whereby the gender composition of a group affects team decisions and performance. Most of the evidence on gender traits comes from the lab, and key open questions remain as to the source of gender preferences?nature versus nurture, or their interaction?and their role, if any, in the workplace.
Keywords: discrimination; field experiments; gender; gender preferences; lab experiments
JEL Codes: C91; C92; C93; J16; J24; J71
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Gender (J16) | Hiring Outcomes (M51) |
| Women Preferences (J16) | Labor Market Participation (J29) |
| Women Preferences (J16) | Job Performance (M54) |
| Team Gender Composition (J16) | Decision-Making (D91) |
| Team Gender Composition (J16) | Performance (D29) |