Publication in Management Science
A paper by Samuel D. Hirshman and Alexander L.P. Willén titled "Does Increasing the Riskiness of Choices Widen Gender Gaps?" is published in Management Science.
This study examines how a policy change in Norwegian universities' regrade system, which increased the risk and potential reward of regrade requests, affected gender disparities in outcomes. Using detailed administrative data, Hirshman and Wilén find that the reform significantly widened the gender gap in regrade requests by 90%, with men being more likely to request regrades than women. The analysis reveals that while differences in risk preferences and loss aversion contribute, they do not fully explain the gap. Instead, gender differences in confidence and beliefs play a crucial role. The findings highlight how ostensibly neutral policies can unintentionally exacerbate gender inequalities, with important consequences for academic outcomes.