Money Talks? Pro-women Affirmative Action through Public Campaign Financing

• In Event: Gender Quotas and Women's Agency

Abstract

How does the provision of public funding for political campaigns influence the recruitment of women candidates and their electoral success? This study employs the Brazilian case as a lens to investigate the broader implications of electoral reforms seeking affirmative action. Specifically, we examine the effects of introducing public funding incentives for political parties to support more women in elections. We aim to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of party strategies and the dynamics surrounding women candidates.
In 2018, the Brazilian Supreme Electoral Court mandated that political parties allocate a proportionate share of 30% of public funding to female candidates. The public funding received by each party is proportional to the number of seats they won in the Congress in the preceding election. A subsequent 2022 rule further incentivized parties to elect more women by doubling the weight of votes (beyond the number of seats) for women and Afro-Brazilians in calculating the distribution of public campaign funds.
To rigorously assess the global impact of such reforms, we employ a Difference-in-Differences (Diff-in-Diff) model, examining whether political parties redirected resources from male to female candidates and whether women experienced an increase in vote share. Since this reform was only implemented at the federal level, we are also able to compare party strategies in state-level proportional elections. This approach disentangles the causal effects of public funding incentives from broader electoral trends.
Preliminary findings suggest that the reforms have prompted parties to reassess their strategies, with some allocating greater resources to female candidates. However, we also investigate the potential risk of perpetuating inequality, as parties may concentrate funds on powerful female federal deputies at the expense of supporting a diverse range of female candidates.
Our research extends beyond Brazil’s borders, emphasizing the generalizability of our findings to diverse political contexts globally. As countries worldwide seek to enhance gender equality in politics, understanding the role of public funding and party leaders in contributing—or failing to contribute—to this cause becomes imperative. This study, therefore, provides crucial insights for academics, policymakers, and practitioners navigating the complex intersection of electoral and gender studies on a global scale.

Authors

• Debora Thome Costa, Fundacao Getulio Vargas

• THIAGO DO NASCIMENTO FONSECA, Getulio Vargas Foundation