'Why So Few Women in Politics? Evidence from India'

Centre for Policy Research is delighted to invite you to a talk by 

Prof. Shamika Ravi

Fellow, Brookings Institution India Center

& Assistant Professor of Economics, Indian School of Business   

                                                                                       on

 'Why So Few Women in Politics? Evidence from India' by 

                                                                Mudit Kapoor & Shamika Ravi

Date: Friday, 2 May 2014

 Time: 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Venue: Conference Room, Centre for Policy Research, Dharam Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110021

Abstract: This paper analyzes women as political candidates in a representative democracy. Using 50 years of assembly elections data at the constituency level from the Indian states, the authors show that women are more likely to contest elections in those constituencies where gender ratio of the electors is less in favor of women. For example, women are more likely to contest elections in backward states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh where the gender ratio of electors is in favor of men than in socially developed states like Kerala where the gender ratio of electors is more in favor of women. The authors present a citizen candidates model of representative democracy and show that empirical results are consistent with the theoretical predict ions of this model. These results challenge existing policy of random reservation of seats for women.

Presenter’s Bio: Shamika Ravi is a Fellow, Brookings Institution, India Center and Assistant Professor of Economics at Indian School of Business.  Her research is in the area of Development Economics with a focus on gender inequality and democracy, financial inclusion and health. She is also a Faculty Affiliate at the Financial Access Initiative of New York University. She is part of the Enforcement Directorate of Microfinance Institutions Network in India and has served as a director on boards of several microfinance institutions. Professor Ravi has published extensively in academic journals and writes regularly in leading newspapers. Some of her previous works are on NREGA, corruption, entrepreneurship development, female empow erment, and farmer suicides in India. Her academic papers may be viewed at http://papers.ssrn.com/author=812932. 

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We look forward to welcoming you to CPR for what promises to be an interesting discussion. Please feel free to share this invitation with friends and colleagues who may be interested.

A line of confirmation will be highly appreciated.

With regards,

Navroz Dubash

Officiating as Chief Executive