Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/208069 
Year of Publication: 
2019
Series/Report no.: 
Discussion Paper No. 169
Publisher: 
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München und Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Collaborative Research Center Transregio 190 - Rationality and Competition, München und Berlin
Abstract: 
Confidence is often seen as the key to success. Empirical evidence about how such beliefs about one's abilities causally map into actions is, however, sparse. In this paper, we experimentally investigate the causal effect of an increase in confidence about one's own ability on two central choices made by workers in the labor market: choosing between jobs with different incentive schemes, and the subsequent choice of how much effort to exert within the job. An exogenous increase in confidence leads to an increase in subjects' propensity to choose payment schemes that depend heavily on ability. This is detrimental for low ability workers. Policy implications are discussed.
Subjects: 
Overconfidence
experiment
beliefs
real-effort
career choices
JEL: 
C91
D03
M50
J24
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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