What Is It About Women in Leadership That Reduces Corruption?

"Wängnerud notes that while more women in office coincides with decreased corruption, elevated corruption levels are an obstacle to women's election. She points to recent data confirming that women in office often do not participate in corruption because they are excluded from such networks where corruption typically occurs. However, in areas with high corruption, fewer women are elected for the same reason. They are excluded from the network."

"Wängnerud's data also confirms U.N. findings that female politicians, more than their male colleagues, push for public service delivery in areas such as health care and education. They are inclined to be more interested in a well-functioning state that can deliver public goods, especially in areas affecting women the most, perhaps because of their greater caregiving responsibilities in everyday life."

"Over 25 years, the United Nations Gallup World Happiness Study shows a strong correlation between the number of women in elected positions and national levels of corruption. Until 2025, although the domain of psychologists, the question of "why" or "how" corruption decreases with female leadership remained mostly unanswered. In an April 8, 2025, research seminar, "Why Women's Political Representation Affects Levels of Corruption," Lena Wängnerud, Professor of Political Science at the University of Gothenburg, outlined the consistent findings from several studies."

The phenomenon of women's impact on corruption in organizations is well documented. Over 25 years, the United Nations Gallup World Happiness Study shows a strong correlation between the number of women in elected positions and national levels of corruption. More women in office coincides with decreased corruption, while elevated corruption levels act as an obstacle to women's election because women are often excluded from corrupt networks. Female politicians push more than male counterparts for public service delivery in health care and education and prioritize a well-functioning state that can deliver public goods. Newly collected regional data corroborate these consistent findings.

Read at Psychology Today