Women for Women? From Political Representation to Impact in Italian Regions

Women for Women? From Political Representation to Impact in Italian Regions

Sara Spaziani (University of Warwick)

ABSTRACT:

Gender equality remains an unmet goal in most countries. This study examines whether female representation in governments drives policies that enhance gender equality, women’s well-being, and safety, yielding tangible results. We focus on Italy’s twenty regions, which have authority over areas like healthcare, education, and gender-based violence. We use quasi-experimental variation in female political representation from the staggered adoption of gender quota policies governing regional elections. These quotas increased the share of female politicians in regional governments by 7 percentage points (80%). Over 15 years, the quotas led to a 100% increase in anti-violence centers and shelters per 100,000 residents. We are collecting additional data to assess the impact on government policies, violence, health outcomes, and female agency.

BIO:

Sara Spaziani is an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Warwick. She obtained her Ph.D. from Brown University in 2024. Her research is in public and labor economics. She studies the optimal design of social insurance programs and their impacts on the labor market. She is also interested in gender inequalities and policies that can drive meaningful change.