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Why do women co-operate more in women's groups?

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  • James D. Fearon
  • Macartan Humphreys

Abstract

We examine a public goods game in 83 communities in northern Liberia. Women contributed substantially more to a small-scale development project when playing with other women than in mixed-gender groups, where they contributed at about the same levels as men. We try to explain this composition effect using a structural model, survey responses, and a second manipulation. Results suggest women in the all-women condition put more weight on co-operation regardless of value of public good, fear of discovery, or desire to match others' behaviour.

Suggested Citation

  • James D. Fearon & Macartan Humphreys, 2017. "Why do women co-operate more in women's groups?," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2017-163, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2017-163
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Greig, Fiona & Bohnet, Iris, 2009. "Exploring gendered behavior in the field with experiments: Why public goods are provided by women in a Nairobi slum," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 70(1-2), pages 1-9, May.
    2. Fearon, James D. & Humphreys, Macartan & Weinstein, Jeremy M., 2015. "How Does Development Assistance Affect Collective Action Capacity? Results from a Field Experiment in Post-Conflict Liberia," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 109(3), pages 450-469, August.
    3. World Bank, 2012. "World Development Report 2012 [Rapport sur le développement dans le monde 2012]," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 4391, December.
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