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Competitiveness and Employability

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  • Demiral, Elif E.
  • Mollerstrom, Johanna

Abstract

We investigate the impact on employability when job candidates signal different personal tastes for competitions. In three experiments, with close to 3,000 participants in total, we show that non-competitive candidates risk being perceived as less productive, while those who signal a willingness to compete with others may be perceived as less socially skilled. However, displaying a willingness to self-compete, i.e. to challenge oneself to improve over time, seems to increase the likelihood of being perceived as both productive and socially skilled, for both female and male job candidates.

Suggested Citation

  • Demiral, Elif E. & Mollerstrom, Johanna, 2024. "Competitiveness and Employability," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:110:y:2024:i:c:s2214804324000478
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2024.102209
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    Cited by:

    1. Demiral, Elif E. & Mollerstrom, Johanna, 2024. "Signaling confidence," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Competitiveness; Employment; Gender; Labor market; Experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • J70 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - General
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • M51 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Firm Employment Decisions; Promotions

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