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Can Quotas Increase the Supply of Candidates for Higher-Level Positions? Evidence from Local Government in India

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  • Stephen D. O'Connell

    (Emory University and the IZA Institute of Labor Economics)

Abstract

A one-third quota rule for women in local political leadership seats in India increases the number of female candidates who later contest seats in state and national legislatures. This arises from the candidacy of beneficiaries who gained political experience due to the quotas and career politicians who continue contesting in longer-exposed areas. The policy accounts for a substantial portion of the increase in female candidates for high office since the mid-1990s. Women have a higher probability of a top finish when running on major party tickets or contesting in areas that overlap with their local constituency.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen D. O'Connell, 2020. "Can Quotas Increase the Supply of Candidates for Higher-Level Positions? Evidence from Local Government in India," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 102(1), pages 65-78, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:102:y:2020:i:1:p:65-78
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J45 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Public Sector Labor Markets

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