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Gender at Work: Productivity and Incentives

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  • Migheli, Matteo

    (Associazione Italiana per la Cultura della Cooperazione e del Non Profit)

Abstract

This paper analyses the relationship between workers’ gender and monetary incentives in an experimental setting based on a double-tournament scheme. The participants must choose between a piece-rate payment or a performance prize. The results show that women tend to shy away from competition, and are less sensitive than men to the monetary incentives of the tournament. In addition the tournament scheme induces males, but not women, to signal their ability and to select the contract which is more profitable for them.

Suggested Citation

  • Migheli, Matteo, 2010. "Gender at Work: Productivity and Incentives," AICCON Working Papers 74-2010, Associazione Italiana per la Cultura della Cooperazione e del Non Profit.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:aiccon:2010_074
    Note: Reference author: University of Eastern Piedmont, Department of Public Policy and Collective Choice; Via Cavour 84 - 15100 Alessandria (Italy). Email: matteo.migheli@sp.unipmn.it Phone: +39 0131 283 873 Fax: +39 0131 283 704.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    gender; incentives; work; experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J41 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Labor Contracts

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