Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/109675 
Year of Publication: 
2014
Series/Report no.: 
Working Paper No. 14-7
Publisher: 
University of California, Department of Economics, Davis, CA
Abstract: 
We study the correlation of choice under risk in Holt-Laury lotteries for gains and losses with gender, the use of hormonal contraceptives, menstrual cycle information, salivary testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, and cortisol as well as the digit ratio (2D:4D) in more than 200 subjects. In males, salivary testosterone is negatively correlated with risk aversion for gains only. In females, salivary cortisol is positively correlated with risk aversion for gains only. No other significant correlations between risk preferences and salivary hormones are observed. No significant correlations between risk preferences and the menstrual cycle are observed in naturally cycling females. No significant correlations between risk preferences and the digit ratio are observed in either gender and/or race. Females who use hormonal contraceptives are more likely to make ``consistent'' choices although this may be due to a selection effect. Risk aversion is positively correlated with being female for losses only.
Subjects: 
hormones
menstrual cycle
contraception
digit ratio
2D:4D
gender
endocrinological economics
Holt-Laury
risk aversion
risk seeking
reflection effect
prospect theory
JEL: 
C91
C92
D44
D81
D87
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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