Do Women Council Members Allocate More Public Goods? Evidence from Rural India

Gender quotas are intended to address the underrepresentation of women in government. However, their effectiveness remains controversial. This study explores the random assignment of gender quotas across villages in India, examining whether women members of local councils affect public goods allocation in their constituencies and identifying potential challenges they face when implementing policies. We conducted a field survey in 100 villages, each with a population of approximately 400, a size corresponding to only one council member for representation in the council. The findings suggest that the performance of women council members generally aligns with that of their men counterparts in terms of public goods allocation. However, women members exhibited less effectiveness in delivering water facilities. Factors potentially hindering female members include influence from nonmember actors, such as husbands; lower educational attainment; and diminished electoral incentives. Additionally, the gender and caste of the council president impacts the performance of women council members, suggesting that overall gender and caste composition of the legislature is an important aspect to consider when evaluating the performance of women politicians.