Gender differences in response to contingent rewards: Evidence from a natural experiment of junior tennis

Abstract

We investigate gender differences in responding to contingent rewards by exploiting a natural experiment in junior tennis tournaments in Florida where the ranking point system was revised to induce more players to play doubles. The new point system increased the points earned from wins in singles matches significantly if the two thirds or more of players in their sex/age group chose to play doubles. We examine three types of potential responses to the new system: (1) a ‘positive’ response of playing doubles more by singles winners, (2) a ‘subversive’ response of playing doubles less by singles losers, and (3) a ‘slack’ response of playing loosely in their doubles matches by singles winners. We find strong evidence on the positive response among boys and top-ranked girls but no evidence for subversive and slack responses.