On the nature of nurture. The malleability of gender differences in work preferences

• Published in: Journal of economic behavior & organization Vol. 151; pp. 19 - 41
• Main Authors: Beblo, Miriam, Görges, Luise
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.07.2018
• Subjects: Cohort analysis; Gender differences; German separation and reunification; Natural experiment; Work preferences; German separation and reunification; Cohort analysis; Gender differences; Work preferences; Natural experiment
• ISSN: 0167-2681; 1879-1751
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2018.05.002

•We study the malleability of gender differences in work preferences.•The German separation and reunification serves as a natural experiment•The gender gap in work preferences is smaller among East Germans (1991 to 2012).•Cohort analyses suggest own experience with GDR institutions as key driver.•The results reveal the power of institutions in shaping gender gaps in preferences. We study the malleability of gender-specific preferences for work by exploiting the German division and reunification as a natural experiment. We test whether the two political systems have shaped gender gaps in preferences differentially, based on German-General-Social-Survey data from 1991, 1998 and 2012, an extensive set of register data and historical data from the 19th and early 20th century. Our analyses reveal a substantial East-West difference in the gender gap directly after reunification and no convergence thereafter. A cohort analysis illuminates the mechanism, as the effect is driven by cohorts who grew up during separation, and suggests that institutions, not cultural legacy, are the decisive component.