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Who cares about childcare? Covid-19 and gender differences in local public spending

Author

Listed:
  • Alda Marchese

    (Università della Svizzera italiana
    Università Bocconi, AXA Gender Lab)

  • Paola Profeta

    (Università Bocconi, AXA Gender Lab)

  • Giulia Savio

    (Università Bocconi, AXA Gender Lab
    University of Turin, Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis)

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic increased the salience of childcare and focused attention on the allocation of public funds for it. Focusing on Italy, one of the first countries severely impacted by the Covid-19 crisis, we analyze how male and female politicians responded to the Covid-19 pandemic in the allocation of funds to childcare. To assess causality, we analyze close mixed-gender races in Italian local elections in small municipalities without gender quotas from 2016 to 2023. Our findings show that pre Covid-19 female mayors spent more on childcare than male mayors. However, during the pandemic, the gender gap closed, as male mayors increased spending, a trend that continued in the post pandemic period.

Suggested Citation

  • Alda Marchese & Paola Profeta & Giulia Savio, 2025. "Who cares about childcare? Covid-19 and gender differences in local public spending," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 32(6), pages 1990-2010, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:itaxpf:v:32:y:2025:i:6:d:10.1007_s10797-025-09887-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s10797-025-09887-8
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    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare
    • J45 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Public Sector Labor Markets

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