Research seminar: Jan Feld (Victoria University of Wellington)

Title: On the Generalizability of Sex-Differences in Risk Attitudes

Author: Jan Feld (Victoria University of Wellington)

Abstract: Sex-differences in risk attitudes are often treated as universal. I test whether this treatment is justified by analyzing 64 measures of risk attitudes which cover over 525,000 people in 120 countries. I analyze my rich dataset using meta-analysis methods. These methods allow me to correct for sampling error and estimate the percentage of countries in which men are more willing to take risks. My results suggest that sex-differences in risk attitudes are not universal but depend on the measure used. According to general self-assessment questions and lotteries in the gain domain, men appear to be more willing to take risks in nearly all countries. However, according to risk measures in the loss domain, there are no clear sex differences in risk attitudes. I also see larger sex-differences in rich and gender-equal countries. My results suggest that the academic literature leads to a distorted picture, because it disproportionately relies on measures and samples in which sex-differences in risk attitudes are bigger and more consistent.

The seminar will take place on Tuesday, October 22, in Room 601 at 12:30.

If you need a discussion slot with Dr. Feld, please write to Tomáš Havránek, and he will try to find a suitable time.

The list of all research seminars at IES (past and forthcoming) is available at: https://ies.fsv.cuni.cz/en/research/research-seminars