Does gender-specific starting point bias in choice experiments prevail among well-informed respondents: evidence from an empirical study

Abstract

Welfare estimates in discrete choice experiments studies are found to be sensitive towards the applied bid vector, i.e. anchoring bias or starting point bias. Furthermore, there are some evidence that female respondents might be more prone to starting point bias compared to male respondents. Using a market good, starting point bias is tested and found on the preference margin only to be evident among female respondents with less experience with the market good. Experienced female and male respondents do not state significant starting point biased preferences. This suggests that starting point bias might be less severe among well-informed respondents.

Keywords:

• discrete choice experiments
• starting point bias
• gender
• market good

JEL Classification:

• Q51
• J16
• I31
• A13
• C93

Acknowledgements

The author thanks Astrid Kiil from KORA, Danish Institute for Local and Regional Government Research, for valuable comments. Errors remaining are the sole responsibility of the author.

Notes

¹ In the remaining part of the article, the term starting point bias (SPB) will be used.