Gender gap in politician performance and its determinants

Ana Garcia-Hernandez, Guy Grossman and Kristin Michelitch

No 972, Ruhr Economic Papers from RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen

Abstract: Women politicians face barriers that can undermine their performance relative to men. Using original micro-data from Uganda, we test for gender gaps in performance across different job duties in subnational legislatures. We hypothesize, and find, that performance gender gaps are greatest in job duties that require greater peer interaction (legislative duties), while no such gaps exist in more individually-performed duties (e.g., meeting with the electorate, facilitating constituency development). Fine-grained network data reveals women's informal exclusion in politician networks, and this exclusion holds explanatory power in explaining job duties requiring interaction with fellow politicians. Further, qualifications and previous experience also determine part of the gender performance gap in more intricate tasks. Moving forward, advocacy organizations may consider holding trainings and simulations with politicians on performing job duties in ways that encourage cross-gender professional network ties.

Keywords: Politician performance; informal exclusion; networks; gender gap (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H11 H79 H83 O10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-gen, nep-hrm, nep-net and nep-ure
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:rwirep:972

DOI: 10.4419/96973137

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