Female Leaders and the Representation of Women in Government

Abstract: Does electing female politicians increase women’s political representation? Using a difference-in-differences design on a comprehensive cross-national dataset, we find that the first election of a female incumbent systematically increases the share of women in government. To address selection concerns, we apply the synthetic control method to a unique case of exogenous government change: the appointment of Germany’s first female state prime minister in 1993—without a state election. Our findings provide causal evidence that her entry led to a lasting rise in women's political representation, highlighting how even one influential woman can help others ascend to high political office.

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