Abstract
The second-to-fourth digit length ratio of an individual's hand (digit ratio) is a putative biomarker for prenatal exposure to testosterone. We examine the hypothesized negative association between the digit ratio and the preference for risk taking within a large U.S. population survey. Our statistical framework provides a cardinal proxy for the true digit ratio based on ordinal digit ratio measurements and accounts for measurement error under the assumptions of Gaussianity and time-invariant true digit ratios. Our empirical findings support the hypothesis and suggest a meaningful biological basis for risk preferences.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 101178 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Economics and Human Biology |
Volume | 47 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2022 |
Keywords
- Digit ratio
- Measurement error
- Risk preferences
- U.S. survey data