How competitiveness may cause a gender wage gap: Experimental evidence |
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Affiliation: | 1. Regierung der Oberpfalz, Emmeramsplatz 8, Regensburg 93039, Germany;2. Friedrich-Alexander-Universitaet of Erlangen–Nuernberg, Lehrstuhl für Volkswirtschaftslehre, insb. Wirtschaftstheorie, Lange Gasse 20, Nürnberg D-90403, Germany;3. University of Goettingen, Platz der Goettinger Sieben 3, Goettingen 37073, Germany;4. Institute for Employment Research and Friedrich-Alexander-Universitaet of Erlangen–Nuernberg, Regensburger Str. 104, Nuernberg 90478, Germany |
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Abstract: | We show that choices in competitive behavior may entail a gender wage gap. In our experiments, employees first choose a remuneration scheme (competitive tournament vs. piece rate) and then conduct a real-effort task. Employers know the pie size the employee has generated, the remuneration scheme chosen, and the employee׳s gender. Employers then decide how the pie will be split, as in a dictator game. Whereas employers do not discriminate by gender when tournaments are chosen, they take substantially and significantly more from female employees who choose piece-rate remuneration. A discriminatory wage gap occurs which cannot be attributed to employees׳ performance. |
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Keywords: | Dictator game Discrimination Gender wage gap Laboratory experiment Real-effort task |
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