Does gender of legislator effect degree of substantive representation?
Start Date
2023 2:15 PM
Location
Alter Hall Poster Session 1 - 3rd floor
Abstract
How well do legislators represent constituents of different socio-economic classes? Substantive representation refers to how well a group’s interests are manifested in legislation passed by their representatives. The literature finds clear evidence of increased substantive representation when a legislator shares in gender or ethnic background with the relevant interest group but offers less clear results regarding economic class. This paper explores the link between legislator gender and the degree to which they substantively represent different economic classes. Data on House bills passed in Ohio in 2016 will be used for the inquiry. All bills from the sample will be sorted by what economic group they affect (working class, business class) and ran against the gender of the legislator in a statistical analysis.
Does gender of legislator effect degree of substantive representation?
Alter Hall Poster Session 1 - 3rd floor
How well do legislators represent constituents of different socio-economic classes? Substantive representation refers to how well a group’s interests are manifested in legislation passed by their representatives. The literature finds clear evidence of increased substantive representation when a legislator shares in gender or ethnic background with the relevant interest group but offers less clear results regarding economic class. This paper explores the link between legislator gender and the degree to which they substantively represent different economic classes. Data on House bills passed in Ohio in 2016 will be used for the inquiry. All bills from the sample will be sorted by what economic group they affect (working class, business class) and ran against the gender of the legislator in a statistical analysis.
