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Do parliamentary gender quotas decrease gender inequality? The case of African countries

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  • Valentina Dimitrova-Grajzl

    (Virginia Military Institute)

  • Iyabo Obasanjo

    (College of William and Mary)

Abstract

Many countries in Africa score very low on gender equality measures; yet, they have some of the highest percentages of women in parliament. They have managed to achieve significant representation of women in government through fast track measures such as the implementation of gender quotas. In the context of fast track reform, this paper evaluates the effectiveness of such parliamentary gender quotas in general, and in particular of different types of quotas, for improving gender equality in African countries. Our empirical results suggest that although all mandated quota systems lead to an increase in the number of women in policy-making, the type of quota affects the de facto ability of women in parliament to influence legislative agendas and ultimately to improve the lives of women. Our findings have implications for the design of affirmative action measures targeting women’s participation in the political process.

Suggested Citation

  • Valentina Dimitrova-Grajzl & Iyabo Obasanjo, 2019. "Do parliamentary gender quotas decrease gender inequality? The case of African countries," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 30(2), pages 149-176, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:copoec:v:30:y:2019:i:2:d:10.1007_s10602-018-09272-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10602-018-09272-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Amaia Altuzarra & Catalina Gálvez-Gálvez & Ana González-Flores, 2021. "Is Gender Inequality a Barrier to Economic Growth? A Panel Data Analysis of Developing Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-21, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Parliamentary gender quotas; African economies and politics; Gender inequality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa
    • D02 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Institutions: Design, Formation, Operations, and Impact
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • B54 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Feminist Economics

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