The origins of Gender Gaps in Norm Enforcement: Experimental Evidence from Matrilineal and Patrilineal Societies in India

Debosree Banerjee, Marcela Ibanez,  Gerhard Riener and Meike Wollni

Societies where individuals are willing to sanction anti-social behavior, can escape the tragedy of the commons and sustain cooperation. Free-riding in the enforcement of social norms is a reason for decay cooperation within society. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how to mobilize participation in norm enforcement and what impedes certain groups from participating in norm enforcement. This paper investigates the supply-side factors that affect the willingness to act as a "third-party punisher." We trace the origin of gender gaps in norm enforcement comparing societies that differ in women's economic empowerment. We find that nurture as opposed to nature can explain the gender gap in selection as third party punisher. In the matrilineal Khasi tribes, where women have higher economic empowerment (enjoy inheritance rights), women are more willing to act as third-party punishers than men.  In contrast, the opposite is true in the patrilineal Santal Tribes in India, where women have restricted economic freedom. Our results indicate that changes in the institutional environment can promote gender equity. In particular, anonymity and reduced retaliation possibilities close the gender gap in the willingness to act as a third-party punisher.