Race and Resources in Brazilian Mayoral Elections

Abstract

Elected officials routinely do not reflect the racial diversity of the citizenry. In Latin America, these descriptive gaps are particularly pronounced. A growing number of studies investigate the causes of racial disparities in representation, however, extant research largely focuses on national assemblies. In this paper, I extend this well-trod line of research to an understudied context, local elections. Using a dataset that covers mayoral elections in Brazil, I demonstrate that multiple factors hinder Afro-Brazilians, who comprise a majority of the Brazilian population, from winning public office. I show that barriers to candidate entry, resource disparities between white and Afro-Brazilian candidates, and race-based preferences among voters contribute to racial inequality in political representation. These results indicate that members of marginalized racial groups often must overcome multiple barriers to achieve electoral success.

Legislature Size and Welfare: Evidence from Brazil

“…For a description of the barriers faced by non-white politicians in Brazil, seeJanusz (2021).5 Boulding and Brown (2014) andGottlieb and Kosec (2019) show that more competition can increase budgetary pressure and lower social policy, leading to bargaining inefficiencies.…”