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Female Workers, Male Managers: Gender, Leadership, and Risk-Taking

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  • Rinne, Ulf

    (IZA)

  • Sonnabend, Hendrik

    (Fern Universität Hagen)

Abstract

This study examines gender differences in risk-taking behavior among managers in a female-dominated industry. Using data from international top-level women's soccer, we provide evidence that male coaches show a lower level of risk-taking than female coaches on average. We also find a U-shaped age effect that is independent of gender, meaning that young and more mature individuals tend to take riskier decisions. Our main results therefore strongly contrast with the majority of previous studies on gender differences in risk preferences, and thereby emphasize the importance of considering the industrial environment. Underlying selection processes may play an important role. We find no correlation between the gender gap in risk-taking and female empowerment defined by national gender equality scores.

Suggested Citation

  • Rinne, Ulf & Sonnabend, Hendrik, 2019. "Female Workers, Male Managers: Gender, Leadership, and Risk-Taking," IZA Discussion Papers 12726, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp12726
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    female empowerment; leadership; gender; risk-taking; management;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J4 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets
    • M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation
    • Z29 - Other Special Topics - - Sports Economics - - - Other

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