We are proud to announce the publication of a significant study authored by Natalia Danzer, Professor of Economics at Freie Universität Berlin; Max Friedrich Steinhardt, Professor of Economics at Freie Universität Berlin; Luca Stella, Associate Professor of Economics at University of Milan; and Sebastian García Torres, Research Assistant at Freie Universität Berlin. The first three authors are members of the Berlin School of Economics.
The study that has been published in Economic Policy and recently featured on VoxEU, examines how women’s representation in national governments influenced policy responses during the Covid-19 pandemic, focusing specifically on school closures across 28 European countries. Using data from March 2020 to September 2021, the research finds that higher female representation in government correlated with a significantly lower likelihood of school closures.
This effect is not attributed to less concern about public health but rather to a heightened awareness of the far-reaching societal and economic costs of school closures, especially for children and working mothers. Governments with more women members were equally likely to implement strict containment measures but often prioritized alternative strategies over prolonged school closures.
The findings underscore the importance of promoting gender diversity in political leadership. Women’s distinct policy priorities and social perspectives enrich decision-making processes, enabling governments to balance public health objectives with the socio-economic wellbeing of families.
As the world continues to address crises and challenges, this research highlights the strategic value of inclusive leadership in crafting policies that better serve diverse societal needs.
For more details on this study: https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/womens-political-representation-matters-evidence-school-closures-during-pandemic
Journal article (open access):
