Women and the Quality of Public Health Services in Brazil

Women and the Quality of Public Health Services in Brazil 

This paper explores if female mayors increase the quality of local public health services and, consequently, the overall health of the residents of the municipality compared to their male counterparts. Using a regression discontinuity design for mixed-gender close elections and a fixed effects model in Brazil from 2000-2016, the results indicate that gender does not increase the performance of key basic healthcare indicators.  

Are Female Mayors Less Corrupt? Evidence from Brazil  

How does gender political inequality level impact gender and corruption dynamics? A Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD) encompassing Brazilian municipal elections from 2000 to 2016 test if female mayors in municipalities with higher levels of gender political inequality are less prone to be involved in corruption cases. Higher reputational costs faced by female mayors due to gender-political inequality and prejudice might reduce their chances of getting involved in illegal and corrupt activity, mainly in municipalities where inequality is higher. Thus, the negative relationship between female mayors and corruption is context dependent. The chapter explores whether a higher prevalence of females in other local offices plays a role in mediating the relationship between female politicians and lower levels of corruption. The study finds that female mayors in Brazil are less prone to be involved in corruption. This relation is strongest when female representation in the local chamber is higher than average.