000			01417nam a22001577a 4500
999			_c523590 _d523590
008			230913b ||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d
100			_aRios, A.M., Guillamon, M.D. and Ballesteros, B.C. _943615
245			_aThe role of women in local governments: An analysis of efficiency in Spain
260			_aUrban Affairs Review
300			_a59(4), Jul, 2023: p.1013-1045
520			_aFemale representation may be a key factor in improving the quality of governance. In fact, the literature considers that the presence of women in organisations tends to improve performance. In this context, this paper attempts to analyse whether the presence of women in municipal councils has an influence on the efficiency of public services for a sample of 141 Spanish municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants for the period 2014–2018. Our results show a U-shaped relationship between the number of female councillors and the level of efficiency in Spanish municipalities. This means that the presence of women is positively associated with municipal efficiency but only if the number of female councillors is relatively high. On the contrary, their voice and personal characteristics are diluted among their male counterparts, and efficiency may be reduced.
650			_aFemale politicians, Women, Gender, Efficiency, Local government. _940514
773			_aUrban Affairs Review
906			_aWOMEN
942			_cAR