Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2022.2081232

Gender (dis)balance in local government: how does it affect budget transparency?

Branko Stanić orcid.org/0000-0002-8746-6764

Abstract

Balanced gender representation in local political life has been a
subject of increasing interest to researchers. This paper, based on
a unique database, analyses the representation of women in local
representative and executive bodies and its impact on budget
transparency (BT) in Croatian local governments. The panel analysis
shows that a greater representation of women in local councils
has a positive effect on the level of local government digital
budgetary reporting. This is in line with gender literature settings
and theories that explain BT, suggesting that the greater representation
of women helps reduce information asymmetry,
increase transparency, and promote government legitimacy. We
do not find significant results in regard to women’s representation
in local executive functions. A particularly indicative policy
implication suggests the aim of increasing the gender balance in
local political spheres, especially when deciding on good governance
practices and fiscal disclosure requirements.

Keywords

Local governments; gender balance; budget transparency; women’s representation; Croatia

Hrčak ID:

303765

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/303765

Publication date:

31.3.2023.

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