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Women Legislators and Economic Performance

Author

Listed:
  • Bhalotra, Sonia
  • Baskaran, Thushyanthan
  • Uppal, Yogesh

Abstract

There has been a phenomenal global increase in the proportion of women in politics in the last two decades, but there is no evidence of how this influences economic perfor- mance. We investigate this using data on competitive elections to India's state assemblies, leveraging close elections to isolate causal effects. We find significantly higher growth in economic activity in constituencies that elect women and no evidence of negative spillovers to neighbouring male-led constituencies, consistent with net growth. Probing mechanisms, we  find evidence consistent with women legislators being more efficacious, less corrupt and less vulnerable to political opportunism.

Suggested Citation

  • Bhalotra, Sonia & Baskaran, Thushyanthan & Uppal, Yogesh, 2021. "Women Legislators and Economic Performance," CEPR Discussion Papers 16605, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:16605
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    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D78 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Positive Analysis of Policy Formulation and Implementation
    • H44 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Publicly Provided Goods: Mixed Markets
    • H73 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Interjurisdictional Differentials and Their Effects

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