TY - JOUR

T1 - Gender Matters in Language and Economic Behaviour

T2 - Can we Measure a Causal Cognition Effect of Speaking?

AU - Beblo, Miriam

AU - Görges, Luise

AU - Markowsky, Eva

PY - 2020/8/1

Y1 - 2020/8/1

N2 - We study potential drivers of the link between gendered languages and gender differences in economic behaviour that economists have recently documented. Combining identity economics and linguistic theory, our formal model distinguishes a direct effect of speaking a gendered language from indirect effects through gender norms and highlights pitfalls in discriminating these effects empirically, particularly when studying behaviour of immigrants. Our empirical exercises illustrate the severity of the problem, as self-selection and intergenerational transmission of traits appear to bias estimates of the link between migrant behaviour and gendered language.

AB - We study potential drivers of the link between gendered languages and gender differences in economic behaviour that economists have recently documented. Combining identity economics and linguistic theory, our formal model distinguishes a direct effect of speaking a gendered language from indirect effects through gender norms and highlights pitfalls in discriminating these effects empirically, particularly when studying behaviour of immigrants. Our empirical exercises illustrate the severity of the problem, as self-selection and intergenerational transmission of traits appear to bias estimates of the link between migrant behaviour and gendered language.

KW - Economics

KW - Gender and Diversity

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85085348005&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.labeco.2020.101850

DO - 10.1016/j.labeco.2020.101850

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:85085348005

VL - 65

JO - Labour Economics

JF - Labour Economics

SN - 0927-5371

M1 - 101850

ER -