Perceptions of Workplace Sexual Harassment and Support for Policy Action

797/2026 Sonia Bhalotra, Matthew Ridley

Workplace sexual harassment is highly prevalent and harms women and the economy. We survey the UK population to provide the first estimates under a single definition of the prevalence of sexual harassment, its harms, people's awareness of sexual harassment law, and indicators of policy effectiveness including reporting and redressal. In a separate survey, we elicit participants' beliefs over these quantities and document the distribution of beliefs. We then experimentally vary information on prevalence, harms and policy (in)effectiveness and estimate impacts on indicators of stated and revealed preferences for policy and civil society action. Finally, we compare policymakers’ beliefs with citizens'.

Gender, Health and Wellbeing