Do Women Mayors Reduce Crime? Evidence from Chile

• In Event: The Politics of Public Security in Latin America

Abstract

Extensive research has shown that electing women can positively affect the delivery of different public goods such as health and education. However, little is known about whether and how women mayors can impact crime and public security. Using rich administrative data from Chile, we analyze whether women mayors can reduce different types of crimes at the municipality level. We explore these potential effects via public security spending, public infrastructure that can deter crime happening on the streets, and programs for the youth. The detailed administrative data also allows us to explore whether these effects vary by victim demographics, such as socioeconomic state, gender, and age. In this study, we use a staggered difference-in-differences design and a regression discontinuity design to explore the effects of electing women mayors. Our findings will contribute to existing research on the consequences of women's representation in legislative positions and how to improve public security in the Global South.

Authors

• Giancarlo Visconti, University of Maryland, College Park

• Maya Dalton, Pennsylvania State University