Believed Gender Differences in Social Preferences*

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Exley, Christine L.; Hauser, Oliver P.; Moore, Molly; Pezzuto, John-Henry
• 署名单位: University of Michigan System; University of Michigan; University of Exeter; Washington University (WUSTL); University of California System; University of California San Diego
• 刊物名称: QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0033-5533
• DOI: 10.1093/qje/qjae030
• 发表日期: 2024
• 页码: 403-458
• 关键词: infinitely repeated games; prosocial behavior; field evidence; women; trust; stereotypes; men; altruism; fairness; DISCRIMINATION

摘要

While there is a vast (and mixed) literature on gender differences in social preferences, little is known about believed gender differences in social preferences. Using data from 15 studies and 8,979 individuals, we find that women are believed to be more generous and more equality-oriented than men. This believed gender gap is robust across a wide range of contexts that vary in terms of strategic considerations, selfish motives, fairness concepts, and payoffs. Yet this believed gender gap is largely inaccurate. Consistent with models of associative memory, specifically the role of similarity and interference, the believed gender gap is correlated with recalled prior life experiences from similar contexts and significantly affected by an experience that may interfere with the recall process of prior memories, even though this interfering experience should not affect the beliefs of perfect-memory Bayesians. Application studies further reveal that believed gender differences extend to the household (i.e., beliefs about contributions to the home, family, and upbringing of children), the workplace (i.e., beliefs about equal pay), and policy views (i.e., beliefs about redistribution, equal access to education, healthcare, and affordable housing).