Work

Gender Differences in Market Competitiveness in a Real Workplace: Evidence from Performance‐based Pay Tournaments among Teachers

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: Recent laboratory and field experiments suggest that women are less effective than men in a competitive environment. I examine how teachers’ performance is affected by a competitive environment and its gender mix. Teachers participated in a tournament that provided cash bonuses based on test performance of their classes. I find no evidence of gender differences in performance under competition in any gender mix environment, or in teachers’ knowledge of the programme and in effort and teaching methods. Women, however, were more pessimistic about the effectiveness of teachers’ performance pay and more realistic than men about their likelihood of winning bonuses.

Source: The Economic Journal

DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0297.2012.02542.x

Author: Victor Lavy

Institutions: National Bureau of Economic Research, University of Warwick, Centre for Economic Policy Research

Language: English

Topic: Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Gender equality, Quality education, Reduced inequalities, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Economic and Social Research Council