ARE WOMEN THE SOLUTION TO CORRUPTION? A quantitative study on the relationship between female representation and corruption

Sammanfattning

In the search for corruption solutions, female representation has emerged as a potential solutionafter two influential studies present a relationship between increased female representation andreduced corruption. The relationship has been coined the fairer sex theory, due to argumentsabout women being more ethical than men. Since then, critics of the theory proposed counteringtheories, some of which dismiss the relationship entirely. The field of research remains dividedon if female representation is associated with lower levels of corruption or not, and why. Theaim of this study is to provide more clarity to the divided field, by investigating the question“Does female representation in parliaments reduce corruption, and, if so, why?”. The studyargues that a relationship between female representation and corruption will be visible at first,but as other factors are controlled for, it may weaken or disappear. The results show that therelationship between female representation and corruption is significant at first. However, whenthe effect of Liberal democracy is introduced, the relationship disappears. Reduced levels ofcorruption are therefore linked to strengthening of liberal institutions.