Image concerns in ex-ante self-assessments–Gender differences and behavioral consequences
通过实验室实验，研究自我评估中的形象关注如何影响男女的自信水平，发现女性在公开评估但实际排名保密时会提高自我评价，而男性无此效应。
While differences in confidence have been identified as a driver behind gender gaps in the labor market, less is known about the moderators of these differences. This paper uses a laboratory experiment to investigate how the image concerns related to the self-assessment affect male and female confidence. Subjects assess their relative performance prior to a real-effort task and can subsequently adjust their efforts. I find that women increase their self-assessment when it is made public, but only if the actual placement remains private. There are no effects for men. I also investigate whether subjects who ex ante overstate their ability provide more effort. I find no evidence of such a motivational effect.