Scientists probe link between poll promises and chances of women getting elected

Researchers are studying the association between the campaign promises made during state elections and the chances of women politicians getting elected in four districts of Bihar.

The ongoing study, led by Indian-origin researcher Sayan Banerjee from University of Essex in the UK, involves 2,500 volunteers spread across four districts and eight state constituencies in Bihar, who will be asked to choose between two hypothetical female candidates where each of them provides a separate electoral incentive. "The survey experiment will test how much voters prefer three different type of electoral offers -- ethnic security, public goods (roads, electricity, schools etc.), and economic patronage ("freebies" - bicycles, colour tv etc.); when these offers are provided by women candidates from different ethnic (caste) backgrounds," Banerjee told PTI.

Click here to read the full article published by Deccan Herald on 28 February 2020.