Gender and Risk-Taking

The belief that men and women have fundamentally distinct natures, resulting in divergent preferences and behaviours, is widespread. In particular, the idea that "women are more risk-averse than men" has become accepted as a truism. Here, Julie Nelson asks: is it true?Operating on empirical, methodological, and policy levels, this book provides an important corrective to scholarly empirical research on gender. It provides tools that can be used in evaluating many sorts of claims of "difference," and offers context for economic policy controversies, such the 2008 financial crisis and the combatting of climate change.