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Issue salience and women's electoral performance: Theory and evidence from Google trends

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  • Michela Cella
  • Elena Manzoni
  • Francesco Scervini

Abstract

In this paper we study, theoretically and empirically, how the belief that the gender of politicians affects their competence on a range of issues may influence electoral outcomes depending on the salience of these issues. We propose a model of issue-specific gender bias in elections which can describe both the presence of a real comparative advantage ('kernel-of-truth' case, or stereotype) and the case of pure prejudice. We show that the bias influences electoral results but it can be partially reversed by successful information transmission during the electoral campaign. We then empirically investigate the relation between issue salience and women's performance, using US data on House and Senate elections. Estimates of issue salience are obtained using Google Trends data. Exploiting the longitudinal dimension of the dataset at district level and an IV strategy to rule out possible endogeneity, we show a positive correlation between the salience of feminine issues and women's electoral outcomes. The average effect is sizable with respect to the share of votes for women candidates, even if not large enough, on average, to increase the probability that women candidates win elections.

Suggested Citation

  • Michela Cella & Elena Manzoni & Francesco Scervini, 2023. "Issue salience and women's electoral performance: Theory and evidence from Google trends," Working Papers 527, University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:mib:wpaper:527
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pedro Bordalo & Katherine Coffman & Nicola Gennaioli & Andrei Shleifer, 2019. "Beliefs about Gender," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 109(3), pages 739-773, March.
    2. Dan Bernhardt & Odilon Câmara & Francesco Squintani, 2011. "Competence and Ideology," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 78(2), pages 487-522.
    3. Castelnuovo, Efrem & Tran, Trung Duc, 2017. "Google It Up! A Google Trends-based Uncertainty index for the United States and Australia," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 149-153.
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    5. Erika Falk & Kate Kenski, 2006. "Issue Saliency and Gender Stereotypes: Support for Women as Presidents in Times of War and Terrorism," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 87(1), pages 1-18, March.
    6. Anzia, Sarah F. & Bernhard, Rachel, 2022. "Gender Stereotyping and the Electoral Success of Women Candidates: New Evidence from Local Elections in the United States," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 52(4), pages 1544-1563, October.
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    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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