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Preferences for government interventions in the economy: Does gender matter?

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  • Migheli, Matteo

Abstract

The extant economics literature finds relevant differences in preferences between men and women, with the former more supportive to competition than the latter. Using survey data for twelve Western European countries this paper shows that, when asked about their preferences for the government intervention in the economy, the two genders express significantly different preferences. While women would increase regulation and social responsibility of the government, they are not opponents of competition. Nevertheless, as the number of women in leading positions in politics and business grows, the world could become more regulated and more social-oriented. The analysis also shows that the gender-related differences depend on country-specific socio-economic factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Migheli, Matteo, 2014. "Preferences for government interventions in the economy: Does gender matter?," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 39-48.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:irlaec:v:39:y:2014:i:c:p:39-48
    DOI: 10.1016/j.irle.2014.05.004
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    Cited by:

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    2. Migheli, Matteo, 2015. "Gender at work: Incentives and self-sorting," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 10-18.
    3. Marta Marson & Matteo Migheli & Donatella Saccone, 2021. "New evidence on the link between ethnic fractionalization and economic freedom," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 257-292, September.
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    5. Matteo Migheli & Flavia Coda Moscarola, 2017. "Gender Differences in Financial Education: Evidence from Primary School," De Economist, Springer, vol. 165(3), pages 321-347, September.
    6. Migheli, Matteo, 2022. "Lost in election. How different electoral systems translate the voting gender gap into gender representation bias," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Preferences; Competition; Regulation; Gender;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H89 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Other
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy
    • Z19 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Other

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