Working Paper: NBER ID: w28916
Authors: Thomas Buser; Muriel Niederle; Hessel Oosterbeek
Abstract: We assess the predictive power of two measures of competitiveness for education and labor market outcomes using a large, representative survey panel. The first is incentivized and is an online adaptation of the laboratory-based Niederle-Vesterlund measure. The second is an unincentivized survey question eliciting general competitiveness on an 11-point scale. Both measures are strong and consistent predictors of income, occupation, completed level of education and field of study. The predictive power of the new unincentivized measure for these outcomes is robust to controlling for other traits, including risk attitudes, confidence and the Big Five personality traits. For most outcomes, the predictive power of competitiveness exceeds that of the other traits. Gender differences in competitiveness can explain 5-10 percent of the observed gender differences in education and labor market outcomes.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: C9; I20; J16; J24
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| gender differences in competitiveness (J16) | education and labor market outcomes (J24) |
| competitiveness (L13) | earnings (J31) |
| competitiveness (L13) | occupation (J69) |
| competitiveness (L13) | educational choices (I21) |
| educational choices (I21) | occupation (J69) |
| competitiveness (L13) | education and labor market outcomes (J24) |