Gender differences in risk behaviour: does nurture matter?

Using a controlled experiment, we investigate if individuals' risk preferences are affected by (i) the gender composition of the group to which they are randomly assigned, and (ii) the gender mix of the school they attend. Our subjects, from eight publicly funded single-sex and coeducational sc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Economic journal (London) 2012-02, Vol.122 (558), p.F56-F78
Main Authors: Booth, Alison L., Nolen, Patrick
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Coeducation
Economic behaviour
Education
Gender differences
Gender differentiation
Learning
Lotteries
Mazes
Men
Risk
Risk assessment
Risk aversion
Risk aversion preference
Risk preferences
Schools
Single sex schools
Social sciences
Social theory
Studies
Womens studies
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Summary:Using a controlled experiment, we investigate if individuals' risk preferences are affected by (i) the gender composition of the group to which they are randomly assigned, and (ii) the gender mix of the school they attend. Our subjects, from eight publicly funded single-sex and coeducational schools, were asked to choose between a real-stakes lottery and a sure bet. We found that girls in an all-girls group or attending a single-sex school were more likely than their coed counterparts to choose a real-stakes gamble. This suggests that observed gender differences in behaviour under uncertainty found in previous studies might reflect social learning rather than inherent gender traits.
ISSN:0013-0133
1468-0297
DOI:10.1111/j.1468-0297.2011.02480.x