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The Influence of Gender on Individuals’ Ability to Predict Their Own Risk Tolerance: Evidence from a European Country

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  • Júlio Lobão

    (School of Economics and Management, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-464 Porto, Portugal)

Abstract

The literature on individuals’ ability to predict their own level of risk tolerance is scarce and presents divergent results. Utilizing both differential prediction models and logit models on a sample of 391 individuals in Portugal, this study demonstrates that respondents’ gender play a crucial role in this predictive ability. Men tend to overestimate their level of risk tolerance, while women tend to believe they are less risk-tolerant than they actually are. Furthermore, the results reveal that men’s ability to correctly predict their level of risk tolerance is significantly higher. Being a man implies a 20% higher probability of being consistent in this prediction compared to being a woman, even after controlling for a set of sociodemographic factors. The finding of a systematic inconsistency between measures of subjective and objective risk tolerance suggests that the choice between the two measures of risk propensity is not indifferent. Our findings have relevant implications in the fields of corporate finance, financial investment, and various other spheres of economic life.

Suggested Citation

  • Júlio Lobão, 2024. "The Influence of Gender on Individuals’ Ability to Predict Their Own Risk Tolerance: Evidence from a European Country," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jadmsc:v:14:y:2024:i:3:p:56-:d:1357525
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lex Borghans & Bart H. H. Golsteyn & James J. Heckman & Huub Meijers, 2009. "Gender Differences in Risk Aversion and Ambiguity Aversion," Journal of the European Economic Association, MIT Press, vol. 7(2-3), pages 649-658, 04-05.
    2. Levi, Maurice & Li, Kai & Zhang, Feng, 2014. "Director gender and mergers and acquisitions," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 185-200.
    3. Lex Borghans & Bart H.H. Golsteyn & James J. Heckman & Huub Meijers, 2009. "Gender Differences in Risk Aversion and Ambiguity," Working Papers 200903, Geary Institute, University College Dublin.
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