Sex and the City: Female Leaders and Spending on Social Welfare Programs in U.S. Municipalities

Abstract

Scholars of urban politics often argue that cities will shy away from extensive funding of social welfare programs, as fiscal realities make developmental policies far more attractive. Despite these arguments, cities continue to fund social welfare programs. One possible explanation is that some local officials prefer funding welfare programs. This research demonstrates that the presence of a female mayor has a large, positive influence on the likelihood a city participates in funding social welfare programs and the amount of monetary resources a city dedicates to these programs. High levels of female representation on city councils and a mayor‐council form of government both interact with the presence of a female mayor to increase the provision and size of social welfare programs in cities.

Exclusion or interests? Why females in elected office reduce petty and grand corruption

“…One of the political agendas female politicians may pursue is to support policies that improve public service delivery and, in particular, those that improve the everyday life of women, such as family policy and health policy. It is by now rather well‐established in research on political representation that female politicians prioritise issues and policies pertaining to the situation of women in society at large to a higher degree than their male collegues (see Bolzendahl ; Bratton & Ray ; Ennser‐Jedenastik ; Holman ; Schwindt‐Bayer & Mishler ; Smith ; Wängnerud & Sundell ).…”

“…One of the political agendas female politicians may pursue is to support policies that improve public service delivery and, in particular, those that improve the everyday life of women, such as family policy and health policy. It is by now rather well-established in research on political representation that female politicians prioritise issues and policies pertaining to the situation of women in society at large to a higher degree than their male collegues (see Bolzendahl 2009;Bratton & Ray 2002;Ennser-Jedenastik 2017;Holman 2013;Schwindt-Bayer & Mishler 2005;Smith 2014;Wängnerud & Sundell 2012). Alexander and Ravlik (2015) transfer these findings to corruption studies, label them ʻthe women's interest mechanism' and highlight the fact that some actions by female politicians may have important spin-off effects on corruption in society at large.…”

“…On one level, related to electoral responsiveness (Pitkin 1967: 209), the correlation between female elected representatives and reduced petty corruption can be explained by female politicians' choice of policy agendas. Research on political representation typically shows that women in elected office are more likely than their male colleagues to seek to improve public service delivery, and in particular the type of services that tend to benefit women (Bolzendahl 2009;Bratton & Ray 2002;Ennser-Jedenastik 2017;Holman 2013;Schwindt-Bayer & Mishler 2005;Smith 2014;Wängnerud & Sundell 2012). Such improvements in public service delivery can decrease the need for women to engage in corrupt transactions in the first place.…”

The Rise and Stall of Canada's Gender‐Equity Revolution

“…More varied and powerful female voices in governance would be an indirect consequence of the policy initiatives noted above, but even more direct support should come from current municipal, provincial, and federal governments where men, and especially women, need opportunities to play prominent roles in promoting gender equity. Women's voices are especially important because they often bring to governance different perspectives and values than are typically articulated by men (see, e.g., Holman ; Levi, Li, and Zhang ; also Bullough et al. ).…”

Gender Differences in Local Executives: Public Policy and Intergovernmental Transfers in a Brazilian state = Diferencias de género en los ejecutivos locales: políticas públicas y transferencias intergubernamentales en un estado brasileño

“…That is, it is possible if a man had requested more investments in drinking water, the result would have been the same. Holman (2014) found that the mayor's gender was a predictor for welfare spending in the United States. If the percentage of female city councillors reached 30%, there would also be an increase in spending, but female councillors were effective with a female mayor at any percentage.…”