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Do Women in Power Empower Poor Women? Explaining the Adoption of Cash Transfers Through Parliamentary Gender Ratios

Author

Listed:
  • Brian Warby

    (Department of Political Science, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa)

  • Barbara Kijewska

    (Institute of Political Sciences, University of Gdansk, Gdansk)

Abstract

Cash transfer programs have become a common, and broadly supported, poverty intervention. After the success seen in Brazil and Mexico with their cash transfer programs, a number of other countries began adopting similar interventions, but many more have not. We ask why some countries have adopted these impactful programs and others have not, and in this article, we look at the role of women in government. We consider Sen and Nussbaum’s human capabilities approach and Anne Phillips’ politics of presence framework. We suggest that women govern and legislate differently than men do, and having more women in government may lead to improvements in important social outcomes that contribute to the development of human capabilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Brian Warby & Barbara Kijewska, 2025. "Do Women in Power Empower Poor Women? Explaining the Adoption of Cash Transfers Through Parliamentary Gender Ratios," Journal of Developing Societies, , vol. 41(3), pages 366-382, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jodeso:v:41:y:2025:i:3:p:366-382
    DOI: 10.1177/0169796X251327006
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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