Public Speaking Aversion

Fear of public speaking is very common, but we know little about its implications for individuals and organizations. We establish aversion as an economically relevant preference using three steps. First, use laboratory classroom experiments to show that preferences in vary strongly across with many participants willing give up significant amounts money avoid giving a short presentation front audience. Second, introduce two self-reported items elicit through surveys. these are related choices the incentivized experiment distinct from established traits preferences, including extraversion. Third, survey business economics students predicts career expectations. Public speaking–averse careers management consulting more attracted data analyst back office careers. This paper was accepted by Axel Ockenfels, behavioral decision analysis. Funding: project has received funding European Research Council under Union’s Horizon 2020 research innovation program [Grant 850590]. Supplemental Material: The online appendix available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4500 .