Are there gender differences in the propensity to compete in China? An empirical investigation

Evidence from the lab suggests that women are not inclined to compete more than men, but the majority of this evidence relates to Western countries. Our study explores gender differences in the propensity to compete among Chinese individuals. The study uses an online survey distributed to undergraduate and postgraduate degree students in a university located in Shanghai and measures performance among Chinese men and women under different incentive schemes. The results of this study suggest that there are no differences in performance under competitive conditions between Chinese men and women. However, women perform slightly better than men when the element of risk is added in a competitive environment. This study underscores the importance of examining cultural nuances when evaluating gender dynamics in competition and contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of these dynamics in the Chinese context.