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Job Prestige and Mobile Dating Success: A Field Experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Brecht Neyt

    (Ghent University)

  • Stijn Baert

    (Ghent University)

  • Jana Vynckier

    (Ghent University)

Abstract

Research using data on offline couple formation has confirmed predictions from evolutionary psychology that women (not men) attach value to the earnings potential of a potential partner. In this study, we examine whether the partner preferences with respect to earnings potential survive in an online context with fewer search and social frictions. We did this by means of a field experiment on the popular mobile dating app Tinder. Thirty-two fictitious Tinder profiles that randomly differed in job status and job prestige were evaluated by 4800 other, real Tinder users. We find that both men and women do not use job status or job prestige as a determinant of whom to show initial interest in on Tinder. However, we do find evidence that, after this initial phase, men less frequently start a conversation with women when those women are unemployed. Still, also then men do not care about the particular job prestige of employed women.

Suggested Citation

  • Brecht Neyt & Stijn Baert & Jana Vynckier, 2022. "Job Prestige and Mobile Dating Success: A Field Experiment," De Economist, Springer, vol. 170(4), pages 435-458, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:decono:v:170:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1007_s10645-022-09412-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s10645-022-09412-w
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    1. Abramova, Olga & Baumann, Annika & Krasnova, Hanna & Buxmann, Peter, 2016. "Gender Differences in Online Dating: What Do We Know So Far? A Systematic Literature Review," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 77661, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
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    11. Neyt, Brecht & Vandenbulcke, Sarah & Baert, Stijn, 2019. "Are men intimidated by highly educated women? Undercover on Tinder," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    12. Raymond Fisman & Sheena S. Iyengar & Emir Kamenica & Itamar Simonson, 2006. "Gender Differences in Mate Selection: Evidence From a Speed Dating Experiment," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 121(2), pages 673-697.
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    Cited by:

    1. Beloborodova, Anna, 2023. "Love or politics? Political views regarding the war in Ukraine in an online dating experiment," MPRA Paper 118862, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    3. Afridi, Farzana & Arora, Abhishek & Dhar, Diva & Mahajan, Kanika, 2023. "Women's Work, Social Norms and the Marriage Market," IZA Discussion Papers 15948, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Beloborodova, Anna, 2023. "Political views regarding the war in Ukraine in an online dating experiment," MPRA Paper 120739, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Job prestige; Partner preferences; Online dating; Dating apps; Tinder;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

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