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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. 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.
Outsiders
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.
Stand and Deliver
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.
Using newly collected data on the share of women in 128 regional-level parliaments in 10 European countries and the 2010-2021 European Quality of Government Index (EQI) survey, Wängnerud finds that on average, the proportion of women in regional parliaments is strongly associated with citizens’ experiences of bribery across all countries and years. Bribery in public service provision dropped more sharply in regions that experienced a greater increase in women’s representation, particularly when the share of women in office rose from relatively few to substantial numbers.
Wängnerud stresses that although it is not always the case that corruption is higher if fewer women are in office, it is consistently the case that when more women are in office, corruption is lower. This is more pronounced in health care and education.
Risk Aversion
Several studies indicate that women are more risk-averse where corruption is concerned, in part because they are often punished more severely than men for wrongdoing. Wängnerud finds that female politicians are perceived as “cleaners” in the wake of a corruption scandal. She states that while this perception may be influenced by stereotypes, it is also grounded in experience.
A 2021 study of 64,000 participants across 27 European countries finds that, in the event of significant corruption, a female candidate for mayor is 3.5 times more likely to be elected than a male candidate. In such circumstances, voters choose cautious, careful candidates who prioritize education, health, and economic development over infrastructure, rather than risk takers. Being an outsider versus a well-connected politician has no effect on the choice of candidate. Both female and male voters prefer female candidates when corruption is rife. Men are more happy with male candidates, whereas many women are not. A male candidate with an infrastructure platform is believed to be the least likely to curb corruption.
The Good News
Levels of corruption can improve. Comparisons of European countries in 2000 and 2015 show that corruption can reverse. The notion that cycles of corruption beget corruption and cycles of integrity beget integrity apparently does not always hold true and is directly affected by the proportion of women in office. In a study of corruption across 21 European countries, all but one showed no change or improvement in corruption levels.
Six of the 21 nations now have less corruption, and half of those also show increases in the number of women in office. Countries maintaining low levels of corruption and a high number of women in parliament have increased from five to seven. In only one country did the number of women in parliament increase, while corruption levels rose from low to medium. Also notable, five of the seven countries with both higher levels of women in office and low corruption are also in the top 10 happiest nations in the 2025 World Happiness Report.
Women as Influencers
Wängnerud also finds indirect effects of women in office upon civil servants. She suggests that women candidates prioritize well-functioning, honest public service and convey inclusiveness, non-discrimination, and reduced tolerance for corruption among civil servants.
She notes an apparent expectation among civil servants that, as the number of women increases, corruption decreases. This impacts the direct relationship between the quality of service provided by civil servants and the citizens they serve.
Leadership Essential Reads
Wängnerud reports that women see women as cleaners. This holds true in most areas, but does not affect police forces.
The “why” of women’s collective impact on corruption summed up, seems to be about influence. They promote the delivery of good government services and are expected to be more proficient at cleaning up corruption, thereby establishing higher-level norms.
