Women politicians and public health

The chapter explores the literature on how women’s participation in politics affects policy making, in terms of redistribution, public health intervention, schooling, and policies outcomes of those directed at improving mothers and children health. Identification issues are then discussed, and designs based on the introduction of quotas, close elections in mixed-gender contexts, and textual analysis. The chapter moves on to the supply and demand side (discrimination) factors creating barriers to entering into politics. It concludes stressing the importance of gender-specific policy preferences (more redistribution and more spending for children and maternal health) in contexts where politicians’ selection matters.