Working Paper: NBER ID: w16436
Authors: Christopher Cotton; Frank McIntyre; Joseph Price
Abstract: Using data from multiple-period math competitions, we show that males outperform females of similar ability during the first period. However, the male advantage is not found in any subsequent period of competition, or even after a two-week break from competition. Some evidence suggests that males may actually perform worse than females in later periods. The analysis considers various experimental treatments and finds that the existence of gender differences depends crucially on the design of the competition and the task at hand. Even when the male advantage does exist, it does not persist beyond the initial period of competition.
Keywords: gender gap; competition; performance differences
JEL Codes: J16; J24
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Males outperform females in the first period of competition (D29) | Male advantage in performance (D29) |
| Male advantage in performance (D29) | Males perform worse than females in later rounds (D29) |
| Competition framed as a race (L13) | Male advantage exists (J16) |
| Competition not framed as a race (J15) | No male advantage (J16) |
| Initial performance differences in competition (D29) | Long-run gender achievement disparities (I24) |