Gender and Risk-Taking

Economics, Evidence, and Why the Answer Matters
1. Auflage 2017
ISBN: 978-1-138-28401-2
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 156 Seiten, Format (B × H): 242 mm x 164 mm, Gewicht: 360 g

Reihe: Routledge IAFFE Advances in Feminist Economics

The belief that men and women have fundamentally distinct natures, resulting in divergent preferences and behaviours, is widespread. Recently, economists have also engaged in the search for gender differences, with a number claiming to find fundamental gender differences regarding risk-taking, altruism, and competition. In particular, the idea that "women are more risk-averse than men" has become accepted as a truism. But is it true? And what are its causes and consequences?

Gender and Risk Taking makes three contributions. First, it asks whether the belief that men and women have distinct risk preferences is backed up by high quality empirical evidence. The answer turns out to be "no." This leads to a second question: Why, then, does so much of the literature claim to find evidence of "difference"? This, it will be shown, can be attributed to biases arising from too-easy categorical thinking, widespread stereotyping, and a tendency to prefer results that are publishable and that fit one’s prior beliefs. Third, the book explores the economic implications of the conventional association of risk-taking with masculinity and risk-aversion with femininity. Not only fairness in employment, but also the health of the financial sector and national responses to climate change, this book argues, are being compromised.

This volume will be eye-opening for anyone interested in gender, decision-making, cognition, and/or risk, especially in areas relating to employment, finance, management, or public policy.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Nelson, Julie A.

Fachgebiete

• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Volkswirtschaftslehre Volkswirtschaftslehre Allgemein Mikroökonomie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Dedication

List of Figures and Tables

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Part I. To Understand the Answer, You First Have to Have a Clear Question

Chapter 1. The Better Question: How Much Different and How Much Similar

Chapter 2. Why We Get Stuck on the Bad Question

Chapter 3. Statistical Tools for Analyzing Similarity and Difference

Chapter 4. Statistical Tools for Inference and the Detection of Bias

Part II. Evidence about Risk Behavior: Little Difference, Much Similarity

Chapter 5. Difference and Similarity in 35 Scholarly Works

Chapter 6. Difference and Similarity in 37 Investment Game Studies

Part III. Evidence about Stereotyping and Confirmation Bias: Rampant

Chapter 7. Stereotyping and Research Participants

Chapter 8. Confirmation Bias Among Researchers in 35 Scholarly Works

Chapter 9. Confirmation Bias and the Review of 37 Investment Game Studies

Part IV. Why It Matters

Chapter 10. Presumed Timidity: Consequences for Women

Chapter 11. Recklessness: The (Masculine) Gendering of Commerce and Finance

Chapter 12. Fearing Fear: The (Masculine) Gendering of Economics and Policy

Conclusion

Index

Über Autor(innen)

Julie A. Nelson is Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Boston and Senior Research Fellow at the Global Development and Environment Institute at Tufts University, USA.