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Gender differences in tournament-performance over time in single-sex and mixed-sex environments

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  • Booth, Alison
  • Hayashi, Ryohei
  • Yamamura, Eiji

Abstract

We chart the evolution of gender differences in performance across single-sex and mixed-sex environments. Our dataset comprises over one million person-race observations of individuals making their racing debut over the period 1997–2012, and randomly assigned by the Japanese Speedboat Racing Association into single-sex and mixed-sex races. This randomization enables us to shed light on learning in races, and explore debut-racers’ performance as they gain experience. Key findings are; (1) Women are initially less skilled than men, (2) average debut-woman's performance improves faster than debut-men's, (3) after gaining racing experience, the gender gap in skill and performance disappears.

Suggested Citation

  • Booth, Alison & Hayashi, Ryohei & Yamamura, Eiji, 2022. "Gender differences in tournament-performance over time in single-sex and mixed-sex environments," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:labeco:v:76:y:2022:i:c:s0927537122000641
    DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2022.102173
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    14. Booth, Alison & Nolen, Patrick, 2012. "Choosing to compete: How different are girls and boys?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 81(2), pages 542-555.
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    Cited by:

    1. Liya WANG & Ritsu KITAGAWA & Takuya TAKAHASHI, 2026. "Affirmative Action, Competitive Intensity, and Effort: Evidence from Japanese speedboat racing," Discussion papers 26003, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    2. Bernd Frick & Clarissa Laura Maria Spiess Bru & Daniel Kaimann, 2023. "Are Women (Really) More Lenient? Gender Differences in Expert Evaluations," Working Papers Dissertations 106, Paderborn University, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics.

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