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| Title: | | The visible hand: Finger ratio (2D:4D) and competitive behavior  |
| Authors: | | Pearson, Matthew Schipper, Burkhard C. |
| Issue Date: | | 2009 |
| Series/Report no.: | | Working Papers, University of California, Department of Economics 09,12 |
| Abstract: | | In an experiment using two-bidder first-price sealed bid auctions with symmetric independent private values, we scan also the right hand of each subject. We study how the ratio of the length of the index and ring fingers (2D:4D) of the right hand, a measure of prenatal hormone exposure, is correlated with bidding behavior and total profits. 2D:4D has been reported to predict competitiveness in sports competition (Manning and Taylor, 2001, and Honekopp, Manning and Muller, 2006), risk aversion in an investment task (Dreber and Hofman, 2007), and the average profitability of high-frequency traders in financial markets (Coates, Gurnell and Rustichini, 2009). We do not find any significant correlation between 2D:4D and both bidding or profits. Yet, our study raises an issue of ethnic differences with respect to 2D:4D. |
| Subjects: | | hormones digit ratio 2D:4D risk behavior competition competitive behavior bidding endocrinological economics |
| JEL: | | C72 C91 C92 D44 D81 D87 |
| Document Type: | | Working Paper |
| Appears in Collections: | | Working Papers, Department of Economics, UC Davis
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