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Contributing to Public Goods as Individuals versus Group Representatives: Evidence of Gender Differences

Author

Listed:
  • Hauge, Karen Evelyn

    (Ragnar Frisch Centre for Economic Research,)

  • Røgeberg, Ole

    (Ragnar Frisch Centre for Economic Research,)

Abstract

We report evidence from a laboratory experiment comparing contributions in public good games played as individuals to contributions made as group representatives. We find that women alter their behaviour more than men. The change is in an out-group friendly direction: while men’s contributions are largely similar across the two treatments, women increase their contributions by 40% on average as group representatives. The results are consistent with empirical research from labour markets suggesting that female corporate leaders emphasize stakeholders beyond the shareholders to a larger extent than men, and they are in line with stereotypes commonly held regarding male and female leaders.

Suggested Citation

  • Hauge, Karen Evelyn & Røgeberg, Ole, 2014. "Contributing to Public Goods as Individuals versus Group Representatives: Evidence of Gender Differences," Memorandum 16/2014, Oslo University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:osloec:2014_016
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    File URL: http://www.sv.uio.no/econ/english/research/unpublished-works/working-papers/pdf-files/2014/memo-16-2014.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    responsibility; group representative; gender; public good game; laboratory experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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