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Gender differences in motivational crowding out of work perfomance

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  • Benndorf, Volker
  • Rau, Holger A.
  • Sölch, Christian

Abstract

This paper studies motivational crowding-out effects after financial incentives are lowered. In a real-effort setting, workers receive a piece rate before financial incentives are substituted by a one-time payment. Under the fixed payment, effort is significantly lower only when preceded by piece-rate incentives. The decrease is driven by a fraction of men who reduce their effort by 12%, whereas women constantly perform well. We find that this motivational crowding-out effect disappears when men do not have prior experience of a piece rate. In a series of control treatments, we discard all alternative explanations besides from motivational crowding out.

Suggested Citation

  • Benndorf, Volker & Rau, Holger A. & Sölch, Christian, 2017. "Gender differences in motivational crowding out of work perfomance," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 304, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:cegedp:304
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Felix Koelle & Tom Lane & Daniele Nosenzo & Chris Starmer, 2017. "Nudging the electorate: what works and why?," Discussion Papers 2017-16, The Centre for Decision Research and Experimental Economics, School of Economics, University of Nottingham.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    gender differences; incentives; motivational crowding out; real-effort task;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • M54 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Labor Management

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