161/2013 Fernanda Brollo and Ugo Troiano

This paper analyses the effect of the gender of local policymakers on policy outcomes. Analysing a rich dataset from Brazilian municipalities and using a regression discontinuity design, we find that municipalities ruled by female mayors have better health outcomes, receive more federal discretionary transfers, and have lower corruption. Additionally, male mayors hire more temporary public employees than their female counter-parts when they are allowed to run for re-election, and when municipal elections are approaching. These findings suggest that male mayors may promote more political patronage than female mayors and that men and women may respond differently to local election incentives.

Culture and Development

Journal of Development Economics

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jdeveco.2016.04.003