ICES Seminar in Experimental Economics and Game Theory
Choice Flexibility and Decision to Compete
Friday, September 19, 2025 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM EDT
Vernon Smith Hall (formerly Metropolitan Building), 5183
The ICES Seminar in Experimental Economics and Game Theory of the Fall 2025 semester will feature:
East Tennessee State University
Choice Flexibility and Decision to Compete
Abstract
Persistent gender gaps in economic outcomes and leadership representation remain a major challenge. One contributing factor is the lower propensity of women to enter competitive environments, a behavioral difference shown to impact career advancement and earnings. In this study, we examine whether introducing flexibility in compensation decisions—specifically, the ability to revise one’s choice between piece rate and tournament after task completion—can reduce gender differences in willingness to compete. We experimentally vary both the availability and timing of this flexibility: some participants learn ex-ante that they may revise their choice, while others are surprised ex-post. Our results show that surprise flexibility can help reduce the gender gap in tournament entry, encouraging more women to opt into competition after task completion. In contrast, when participants are informed in advance, the gender gap widens, as men respond more assertively to the competitive option. These findings highlight how the structure and timing of choice flexibility can shape competitive behavior.
For more information about the Seminar Series, please visit the Seminar Schedule homepage.
