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Biology and the gender gap in educational performance - The role of prenatal testosterone in test scores

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  • Anne (A.C.) Gielen

    (Erasmus University Rotterdam, IZA)

  • Esmee Zwiers

    (Erasmus University Rotterdam)

Abstract

This paper explores the contribution of biological factors in explaining gender differences in educational performance, with a particular focus on the role of prenatal testosterone. We exploit the fact that prenatal testosterone is hypothesized to transfer in-utero from a male twin to his twin sibling causing exogenous variation in exposure to prenatal testosterone in twins. By using Dutch administrative data and controlling for potential socialization effects, we find that girls with a twin brother score 7% of a standard deviation lower on math compared to girls with a twin sister. Adherence to traditional gender norms can explain this finding, implying that our results are not just driven by biology but materialize depending on environmental factors.

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  • Anne (A.C.) Gielen & Esmee Zwiers, 2018. "Biology and the gender gap in educational performance - The role of prenatal testosterone in test scores," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 18-086/V, Tinbergen Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:20180086
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    Cited by:

    1. Delprato, Marcos, 2022. "Educational gender gap in sub-Saharan Africa: Does the estimation method matter? A comparison using a sample of opposite sex twins," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).

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    Keywords

    gender performance gap; twins; prenatal testosterone;
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    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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