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Health and the Political Agency of Women

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  • Bhalotra, S
  • Clots-Figueras, I

Abstract

We investigate whether women?s political representation in state legislatures improves public provision of antenatal and childhood health services in the districts from which they are elected, arguing that the costs of poor services in this domain fall disproportionately upon women. Using large representative data samples from India and accounting for potential endogeneity of politician gender and the sample composition of births, we find that a 10 percentage point increase in women?s representation results in a 2.1 percentage point reduction in neonatal mortality, and we elucidate mechanisms. Women?s political representation may be an under-utilised tool for addressing health in developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Bhalotra, S & Clots-Figueras, I, 2013. "Health and the Political Agency of Women," Economics Discussion Papers 9006, University of Essex, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:esx:essedp:9006
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    political identity; global health; gender; mortality; health; social preferences; India.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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