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The effect of quotas on female representation in local politics

Author

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  • Köppl-Turyna, Monika
  • Kantorowicz, Jarosław

Abstract

This work looks at the policies aimed at promoting female participation in local legislative bodies using a series of changes to electoral law in Poland. We use a difference-in-discontinuities design to examine the effect of an introduction of a female quota on female participation in local councils. We find that the female quota has a strong positive effect on the percentage of females in the local council by increasing the pool of female candidates. It does not, however, affect the individual probability of being elected as a female, suggesting that its effect on voters' preferences is limited.

Suggested Citation

  • Köppl-Turyna, Monika & Kantorowicz, Jarosław, 2020. "The effect of quotas on female representation in local politics," Research Papers 15, EcoAustria – Institute for Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:ecoarp:15
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Bansak, Kirk & Nowacki, Tobias, 2022. "Effect Heterogeneity and Causal Attribution in Regression Discontinuity Designs," SocArXiv vj34m, Center for Open Science.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    female quota; electoral rules; female representation; regression discontinuity; difference in discontinuities;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • B52 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary; Modern Monetary Theory;

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