This study explores why women are less likely than men to run for elected office. Researchers conducted a laboratory experiment where they controlled incentives and manipulated electoral contexts.
Laboratory Experiments
The investigation involved experiments that measured how representative selection influenced candidate emergence, with varying conditions of competition and cost.
Equality in Volunteerism
Subjects were equally inclined to volunteer when the representative was randomly assigned.
Election Aversion emerges
However, a significant difference surfaced: women showed less willingness to become candidates under election-like conditions compared to men.
Methodological Rigor
The findings indicate this gender disparity isn't due to differences in ability or risk aversion between candidates. Instead, it's linked to the competitive nature and strategic context of elections themselves.
Campaign Influence
Women appear more averse specifically to running under election conditions with campaigns and costly entry barriers,
while men seem unaffected by these electoral pressures.
Contextual Factors
The study finds that election aversion persists even across different campaign environments but disappears when both costs are removed (costless) and information is complete (truthful). These insights highlight the crucial role of specific institutional features in political representation.
