Perceived Corruption and Women’s Representation in the Executive Branch

Abstract This article looks at the effect of perceived corruption on women’s representation in the cabinet. Using a global dataset with data from 1992 to 2023, we report five findings. First, we confirm that perceived corruption makes it harder for women to access the cabinet. Second, we disconfirm that high corruption and low trust in democratic institutions entice heads of the government to nominate more women. Rather, we find a reversed relationship. Third, we find women do not see their chances of gaining nomination to a high-prestige portfolio diminish in countries with high levels of perceived corruption. Fourth, we report that trust in democratic institutions does not condition the effect of perceived corruption on the portfolio allocation of female ministers. Finally, we illustrate that change in corruption scores, either alone or in combination with trust, rather does not influence women’s nomination to cabinet.