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The dark side of competition: Gender differences

Author

Listed:
  • Chang, Simone
  • Kan, Kamhon
  • Zhang, Xiaobo

Abstract

The literature has placed great emphasis on the advantages of competition on market efficiency while ignoring the downside of competition on health. Using a natural experiment in Taiwan, we show that excessive competition comes at a health cost. In the late 1940s, half a million soldiers retreated to Taiwan from Mainland China after a civil war. They were initially not allowed to get married until the marriage ban was essentially lifted in 1959. As a large number of soldiers flooded the marriage market, men faced much stronger mating competition than before, which in turn increased the likelihood of male depression and mortality.

Suggested Citation

  • Chang, Simone & Kan, Kamhon & Zhang, Xiaobo, 2016. "The dark side of competition: Gender differences," IFPRI discussion papers 1585, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    • Handle: RePEc:fpr:ifprid:1585
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    5. Hongbin Li & Junjian Yi & Junsen Zhang, 2011. "Estimating the Effect of the One-Child Policy on the Sex Ratio Imbalance in China: Identification Based on the Difference-in-Differences," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 48(4), pages 1535-1557, November.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    gender; markets; health; men; marriage; sex ratio; mortality; governance;
    All these keywords.

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