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Gender Differences in Risk-Taking and Sensation-Seeking Behavior: Empirical Evidence from “ExtremeSports”

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  • Bernd Frick

    (Paderborn University)

Abstract

Do men and women differ with respect to sensation-seeking behavior, an extreme form of risk preferences? In this paper, I use data from two different high-risk sports—cliff diving and free diving—to test for possible differences between the genders. My findings suggest that, first, women are under-represented in both sports, but that, second, for those who self-select into these occupations, no differences with respect to sensation-seeking behavior can be found between men and women.

Suggested Citation

  • Bernd Frick, 2021. "Gender Differences in Risk-Taking and Sensation-Seeking Behavior: Empirical Evidence from “ExtremeSports”," De Economist, Springer, vol. 169(1), pages 5-20, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:decono:v:169:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s10645-020-09373-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10645-020-09373-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Risk preferences; Sensation-seeking; Gender differences; Self-selection; Extreme sports;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J29 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Other
    • J49 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Other
    • Z20 - Other Special Topics - - Sports Economics - - - General

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