Are There Gender Differences in Performance in Competition in China? An Empirical Investigation

TL;DR

This study finds no gender differences in competitive performance among Chinese students, but women perform slightly better when risk is involved.

Contribution

The study provides novel evidence on gender performance in competition within a Chinese cultural context.

Findings

Chinese men and women show no performance differences in competitive environments.

Women outperform men slightly when risk is introduced in competition.

Abstract

Evidence from the lab suggests that women perform less well than men under competitive conditions, but the majority of this evidence relates to Western countries. Our study explores gender differences in performance in competitive environments among Chinese individuals. Using a five-round online experimental design, we recruited undergraduate and postgraduate students from a Shanghai university. Participants completed a series of word memory games under varying incentive schemes, including baseline, piece-rate, risk-based, and tournament-style competition. The results of this study suggest that there are no differences in performance under competitive conditions between Chinese men and women. However, women perform slightly better than men when the element of risk is added in a competitive environment. This study underscores the importance of examining cultural nuances when evaluating gender dynamics in competition and contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of these dynamics in the Chinese context.