Speaker
Description
We use the universe of Nepali voter registration records to examine how social networks shape local-level elections. Using information on individual-level kinship ties among 13.9 million registered voters in 2017, we show how connectedness of individuals to other registered voters and politicians matters for selection into politics. We first establish that political candidates chosen by their party are better connected to voters and other politicians. Further, we show that this correlation is not due to correlated unobservables. Using a regression discontinuity design, we establish a causal link from the political success of one person to the candidacy of their relatives. We show that relatives of bare winners in previous elections are more than twice as likely to be chosen as the party’s candidate for female-reserved seats than relatives of bare losers. To study mechanisms, we investigate effect heterogeneity and find that young women and in-laws are more likely to run if they reside in the same village as the male politician in their family, evidence consistent with women serving as proxies to fill low-ranking female-reserved seats. We also find limited evidence that successful relatives serve as role models that inspire women to run for office.
