Gender Gap in Representation Explained by Incumbency Bias

This study explores how political parties select female candidates for parliamentary elections in proportional systems. It examines why some parties place women in viable list positions while others do not.

🔍 Candidate Selection

The research focuses on the role of incumbency and gender, analyzing these factors across diverse European party systems.

📊 Key Variables

* Incumbency status significantly impacts nomination chances for both men and women;

* Female gender remains a relevant factor but explains less candidate selection than expected;

* Party ideology also plays a role in selecting novice female candidates.

💡 Implications

The findings suggest that understanding descriptive representation requires focusing on incumbency bias as the primary driver, with other factors like party politics and broader societal trends accounting for variations.