The impact of gender quotas on electoral participation: Evidence from Italian municipalities

Maria De Paola (), Vincenzo Scoppa () and Marco Alberto De Benedetto

European Journal of Political Economy, 2014, vol. 35, issue C, 141-157

Abstract: We analyze the effect of gender quotas on electoral participation by using a dataset regarding Italian municipal elections. Gender quotas were in force in Italy from 1993 to 1995. Given the short period covered by the reform, some municipalities never voted using a gender quota. We identify a treatment and a control group and estimate the effects of gender quotas by using a Difference-in-Differences estimation strategy. Electoral turnout shows a decreasing trend, but turnout decreased significantly less in municipalities affected by the reform, suggesting that gender quotas produced an increase in electoral participation. The effect on electoral turnout is driven by an increase in valid ballots. The effect is smaller in the southern part of the country, which typically manifests more traditional gender roles. We also find that female electors react more than males.

Keywords: Gender quotas; Political participation; Electoral turnout; Natural experiment; Gender discrimination (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D72 J16 J71 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (24)

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Working Paper: The Impact of Gender Quotas on Electoral Participation: Evidence from Italian Municipalities (2012)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:poleco:v:35:y:2014:i:c:p:141-157

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2014.06.001

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