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Gender Differences in Repeated Dishonest Behavior: Experimental Evidence

Author

Listed:
  • Subhasish M. Chowdhury

    (Department of Economics, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK)

  • Joo Young Jeon

    (Department of Economics, University of Reading, Reading RG6 3AA, UK)

  • Chulyoung Kim

    (School of Economics, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea)

  • Sang-Hyun Kim

    (School of Economics, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea)

Abstract

We investigate gender differences in lying behavior when the opportunity to tell lies is repeated. In specific, we distinguish the situations in which such an opportunity can be planned versus when it comes as a surprise. We utilize data from an existing published research and show that when the opportunity to tell a lie comes as a surprise, then on the first occasion, males lie more than females. However, when telling lies can be planned, then there is no gender difference in telling a lie. When planning is possible, females tell more lies in the first occasion compared to when it is not possible to plan; males do not show such behavior. On the second and final occasion, males tell more lies than females when they either could not plan but had the opportunity to a lie before, or could plan but did not have to tell a lie before. These observations can be interpreted in terms of the gender differences in consistent versus compensatory moral behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Subhasish M. Chowdhury & Joo Young Jeon & Chulyoung Kim & Sang-Hyun Kim, 2021. "Gender Differences in Repeated Dishonest Behavior: Experimental Evidence," Games, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-11, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jgames:v:12:y:2021:i:2:p:44-:d:559658
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    Cited by:

    1. Alice Guerra & Emanuela Randon & Antonello E. Scorcu, 2022. "Gender and deception: Evidence from survey data among adolescent gamblers," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 75(4), pages 618-645, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    dishonesty; lying; pre-planning; gender; experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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