Abstract
This doctoral dissertation comprises three chapters on applied microeconomics, with each chapter consisting of an independent research article. The first chapter provides a structured review of the literature on gender differences in competitiveness. It synthesizes evidence on entry into competition, performance under competitive pressure, and the selection of opponents—highlighting how contextual factors such as task type, group composition, and competition format influence observed gender gaps. The article also expands the analysis beyond traditional 1:many tournament formats to include head-to-head (1:1) and team-based (team:team) competitions, showing that alternative formats can mitigate gender gaps. The second chapter, co-authored with Fabio Galeotti and Valeria Maggian, examines gender-biased behavior in a quasi-natural setting: a high-stakes Italian TV game show where contestants choose their opponent. The study finds systematic gendered patterns in opponent selection, with men disproportionately choosing to challenge women and vice versa. This pattern persists even after controlling for performance and education level, making statistical discrimination an unlikely explanation. To investigate the nature of this behavior, a complementary online experiment explores the possible role of inaccurate beliefs about ability or implicit biases. The findings ultimately point to own-gender favoritism as a key behavioral driver: when choosing an opponent, contestants prefer to avoid competing against members of their own gender, opting instead for an out-group member. The third chapter, joint work with Mirco Tonin, explores post-mortem organ donation behavior of one-third of the Italian adult population (16 million citizens across over 5,000 municipalities), linking consent and abstention rates to community socio-demographic features and social capital. By combining administrative data with qualitative interviews, the analysis reveals that municipalities with lower education levels and higher immigration report higher abstention and lower consent rates. In contrast, social capital emerges as a key driver of consent. Additionally, cultural mistrust, misinformation, and emotional discomfort are significant factors influencing these decisions. Through three distinct yet conceptually connected chapters, the thesis demonstrates that economic behavior is not static, but is instead deeply influenced by social norms, institutional cues, and identity-related dynamics. The findings have implications for both research and policy, particularly in designing interventions that promote equity and efficiency by considering cultural factors across diverse settings.