Less but better? The influence of gender on political activity

Abstract

In this article, we study gender differences in the activity and effectiveness of French parliamentarians between 1993 and 2022. Using fixed-effect regressions, we find that women author less bills than men but there are no significant differences for other outcomes such as amendments or oral questions. The gender gap for bills is observed only for newcomers and fades after the first half of the term, suggesting a difference in attitudes rather than a selection effect. Conversely, women are substantially more effective: each term, 46 amendments authored by women pass, whereas 33 of the men’s amendments pass. This is mostly due to the use and quality of their amendments, with men being more prone to obstructive behaviors for instance. On the other hand, women in the opposition party are less slightly likely to have their bills passed than men in the opposition party. This is linked to discrimination within the party, which less often selects bills drafted by women to submit them to a vote. All these results are robust when using RDD strategies based on close elections. Overall, gender quotas have positive effects on parliamentary work as effectiveness is crucial in policy making. It is however essential to create an environment favorable to the inclusion of women.