7 December 2012: Does female leadership impact on governance and corruption? Evidence from a public poverty alleviation program in Andhra Pradesh, India

Farzana Afridi
Indian Statistical Institute

Abstract:
We exploit the* *nation-wide* *policy of randomly allocating village
council headships to women to identify the impact of female political
leadership on the governance of projects implemented under the
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in Andhra Pradesh,
India. Using unique data from a primary survey and from a panel of
audit reports on the implementation of projects under the scheme, we
find that the likelihood of inefficiencies and leakages are higher in
village councils reserved for women. These results are explained by
political and administrative inexperience making female headed
councils more vulnerable to bureaucratic capture of power. Our
findings highlight the importance of capacity building and
institutional support to improve the effectiveness of affirmative
action policies and bolster women’s political participation in
developing countries.

Date: December 7, 2012
Time: 11:30 A.M.

Venue:
Seminar Room 2
Indian Statistical Institute Delhi Centre,
7, S. J. S. Sansanwal Marg,
New Delhi-110016 (INDIA)

Location:

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