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Some (Mis)facts about 2D:4D, Preferences and Personality

Author

Listed:
  • Judit Alonso

    (Universidad de Alicante)

  • Roberto Di Paolo

    (Universidad de Alicante)

  • Giovanni Ponti

    (Universidad de Alicante)

  • Marcello Sartarelli

    (Dpto. Fundamentos del Análisis Económico)

Abstract

We study how the ratio between the length of the second and fourth digit (2D:4D) correlates with choices in risk and social preferences elicitation tasks by building a large dataset from six experimental projects with more than 900 subjects. We find that social preferences are weakly significantly lower when 2D:4D is above the median value and, in addition, we find that they vary significantly with cognitive ability. When we look at risk preferences, we find that a high 2D:4D is not significantly associated with the frequency of subjects’ risky choices. Finally, when we look at personality traits, we find no significant association, except for some significant association with individual questions used to obtain personality proxies.

Suggested Citation

  • Judit Alonso & Roberto Di Paolo & Giovanni Ponti & Marcello Sartarelli, 2017. "Some (Mis)facts about 2D:4D, Preferences and Personality," Working Papers. Serie AD 2017-08, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas, S.A. (Ivie).
    • Handle: RePEc:ivi:wpasad:2017-08
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    2D:4D; cognitive re¿ection; gender; personality; risk; social preferences;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • D8 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty

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