Decentralization - a route towards gender balance in municipal politics? Decentralization and wider women representation in municipal assemblies: evidence across countries

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between the level of decentralization and women's political participation in local politics. Using the OLS regression analysis I ask whether fiscal decentralization fosters more gender-balanced politics at the municipal level and whether the quality of public service serves as a mechanism through which the relationship works. The following hypotheses are tested: H(1)A higher level of decentralization is positively associated with the higher share of women councilors in municipal assemblies. H(2) Higher vulnerabilities in public services negatively affect the proportion of women in municipal assemblies. H(3) Decentralization has a positive effect on the quality of public service provision. The rationale for hypothesis testing lies in the promises of decentralization to bring about the efficiency of public services (through the “preference matching and allocative efficiency” hypothesis) and the common idea that the failure of governments to provide good quality public services increases gender inequalities. To test the abovementioned hypothesis, cross-sectional data were collected on 40 European states accompanied by Turkey and Israel. Findings point to the correlation between fiscal decentralization and women's political presence. Also, tax revenue decentralization is a statistically significant variable in explaining the quality of public services. However, evidence for public services to be a determinant of women's political empowerment in municipalities was not found.