| By: |
Thomas Buser (University of Amsterdam);
Alexander Cappelen (NHH Norwegian School of Economics);
Uri Gneezy (University of California, San Diego);
Bertil Tungodden (Norwegian School of Economics) |
| Abstract: |
We provide globally representative evidence on two attitudes toward
competition: individuals’ willingness to compete and the importance they
attach to boys and girls being willing to compete, using a novel survey module
that we fielded as part of the 2022 Gallup World Poll. The data cover more
than 66, 000 individuals across 62 countries. Men are more willing to compete
than women in all but two countries, and willingness to compete is higher
among younger, more educated, and higher-income individuals. Attitudes toward
children’s willingness to compete vary substantially across countries, with
competitiveness valued more for boys in some countries and for girls in
others. Both attitudes are systematically related to the economic and social
environment. Individuals exposed to greater inequality or faster population
growth during their formative years are more willing to compete and place
greater importance on children being willing to compete. Greater exposure to
gender equality during formative years is associated with smaller gender gaps
in both adults’ willingness to compete and attitudes toward the
competitiveness of boys and girls. Our findings reveal striking global
regularities while highlighting the role of the social environment in shaping
attitudes toward competition. |
| Keywords: |
willingness to compete, gender, global, representative sample, socialization |
| JEL: |
D91 J16 J24 |
| Date: |
2026–09 |
| URL: |
https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hka:wpaper:2026-011 |