Journal of Development Economics · 2025 · Sher Afghan Asad、Husnain Ahmad、Hadia Majid
中文摘要
我们研究了巴基斯坦某在线市场中的性别歧视。我们使用能传递性别信号的买家资料,以实验方式与平台上的卖家进行交易。我们没有发现定价或产品质量方面存在歧视的证据,这表明数字市场或可消解传统的经济偏见。然而,在非价格互动中,显著的性别差异依然存在。交易结束后,女性买家明显更可能收到未经请求的消息和好友请求,且这些请求主要来自男性账户。语言分析进一步显示,男性卖家对女性买家表现得更为冗长、热情,且更具调情意味。尽管这些互动可能并不构成公然骚扰,但在保守且父权制色彩浓厚的社会环境中,这种未经请求的接触——无论出于何种意图——都可能给女性带来声誉和社会成本。我们的研究结果表明,在线市场即便消除了经济结果上的歧视,仍可能对公平参与构成隐性障碍。
Abstract
We investigate gender discrimination in an online marketplace in Pakistan. Employing buyer profiles that signal gender, we experimentally engage in transactions with sellers on the platform. We find no evidence of discrimination in pricing or product quality, suggesting that digital marketplaces may neutralize traditional economic biases. However, significant gender differences persist in non-price interactions. Female buyers are significantly more likely to receive unsolicited messages and friend requests following transactions, primarily from male accounts. Linguistic analysis further reveals that male sellers exhibit greater verbosity, enthusiasm, and flirtatiousness towards female buyers. While these interactions may not constitute overt harassment, in conservative and patriarchal settings, such unsolicited contact – regardless of intent – can carry reputational and social costs for women. Our findings highlight that online marketplaces, even as they remove discrimination on economic outcomes, may pose subtle barriers to equitable participation.