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Health and the Political Agency of Women

Sonia Bhalotra and Irma Clots-Figueras

Economics Discussion Papers from University of Essex, Department of Economics

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.

Keywords: political identity; global health; gender; mortality; health; social preferences; India. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Health and the Political Agency of Women (2014) Downloads
Working Paper: Health and the Political Agency of Women (2011) Downloads
Working Paper: Health and the Political Agency of Women (2011) Downloads
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