The Menstrual Cycle and Performance Feedback Alter Gender Differences in Competitive Choices Forthcoming in The Journal of Labor Economics

We use a within-subjects experiment with math and word tasks to show that relative performance feedback moves high ability females towards more competitive forms of compensation and moves low ability men towards less competitive forms and eliminates gender differences in choices. We also examine females across the menstrual cycle, and find that women in the high-hormone phase are more willing to compete than women in the low phase. There are no significant differences between choices after subjects receive feedback. Thus, biological differences lead to economically significant differences, but the impact of those differences can be lowered through relative performance information.