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Culture and Gender Differences in Honesty

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Gender differences in preferences play a crucial role in shaping economic outcomes. This study examines cross-societal variation in gender differences in honesty, testing whether they reflect innate traits or are shaped by social norms. Using global experimental and survey data, we find that gender differences in honesty emerge primarily in Western societies, where women report stronger honesty norms than men, while such differences are absent in non-Western societies. Additional evidence shows that gender differences in honesty norms are transmitted across generations and narrow as countries become wealthier. These patterns suggest that gender differences in honesty are better explained by socialisation rather than innate traits.

Source: The Economic Journal

DOI: 10.1093/ej/ueaf137

Authors: Caroline Graf, Andreas Pondorfer, Jonathan F Schulz

Institutions: University of Zurich, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Technical University of Munich, George Mason University

Language: English

Topic: Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Gender equality

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W7117562053

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