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Digit Ratios and Social Preferences: A Comment on Buser (2012)

Author

Listed:
  • Pablo Brañas-Garza

    (Middlesex University London, Business School)

  • Jaromír Kovárík

    (Dpto. Fundamentos Analisis Economico I & BRiDGE, University of the Basque Country)

Abstract

Buser (2012) reports an association between the second-to-fourth digit ratio, a biomarker of the exposure to prenatal sex hormones, and behavior in several classic experimental games designed to elicit prosocial attitudes. His subjects self-report whether they have shorter, equal, or larger ring than index nger. We argue that this elicitation method is inappropriate. It generates a poor proxy for the digit ratio as it su ers from measurement errors. As a result, using this variable in the regression analysis may lead to inconsistent estimates.

Suggested Citation

  • Pablo Brañas-Garza & Jaromír Kovárík, 2013. "Digit Ratios and Social Preferences: A Comment on Buser (2012)," Working Papers 13-31, Chapman University, Economic Science Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:chu:wpaper:13-31
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    File URL: http://www.chapman.edu/research-and-institutions/economic-science-institute/_files/WorkingPapers/BuserWorkingPaper.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. repec:dgr:uvatin:20110046 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Pablo Brañas-Garza & Jaromír Kovářík & Levent Neyse, 2013. "Second-to-Fourth Digit Ratio Has a Non-Monotonic Impact on Altruism," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(4), pages 1-10, April.
    3. Ellen Garbarino & Robert Slonim & Justin Sydnor, 2011. "Digit ratios (2D:4D) as predictors of risky decision making for both sexes," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 42(1), pages 1-26, February.
    4. Schipper, Burkhard C., 2023. "Sex hormones and choice under risk," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    5. Andreas C. Drichoutis & Rodolfo M. Nayga, 2015. "Do risk and time preferences have biological roots?," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 82(1), pages 235-256, July.
    6. Antoni Bosch-Domènech & Pablo Brañas-Garza & Antonio M. Espín, 2013. "Can exposure to prenatal sex hormones (2D:4D) predict cognitive reflection?," Working Papers 698, Barcelona School of Economics.
    7. Buser, Thomas, 2012. "Digit ratios, the menstrual cycle and social preferences," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 76(2), pages 457-470.
    8. Santiago Sanchez-Pages & Enrique Turiegano, 2009. "Testosterone, Facial Symmetry and Cooperation in the Prisoners' Dilemma," Edinburgh School of Economics Discussion Paper Series 192, Edinburgh School of Economics, University of Edinburgh.
    9. John V C Nye & Gregory Androuschak & Desirée Desierto & Garett Jones & Maria Yudkevich, 2012. "2D:4D Asymmetry and Gender Differences in Academic Performance," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(10), pages 1-16, October.
    10. J. T. Manning & R. L. Trivers & D. Singh & R. Thornhill, 1999. "The mystery of female beauty," Nature, Nature, vol. 399(6733), pages 214-215, May.
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    1. Brañas-Garza, Pablo & Espín, Antonio M. & Garcia, Teresa & Kovářík, Jaromír, 2018. "Digit ratio (2D:4D) predicts pro-social behavior in economic games only for unsatisfied individuals," MPRA Paper 86166, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    Keywords

    Digit ratio; measurement errors; endogeneity; social preferences; non-monotonicity; altruism;
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