During my PhD research, I wrote a paper on how countries with women leaders are more prone to trade conflicts. Wile these may not be taked about as much as the US-China trade conflict with alpha-males at the helm, statistical significance is found in women heads of government and increased initiations of trade conflicts. (Link to the paper is here).
In the past few weeks, there is a buzz on social and popular media as to how countries with women leaders have outperformed other countries when it comes to tackling the Covid-19 pandemic. A deeper empirical study on this topic is awaited, however, primary evidence suggesting a strong correlation between women leadership and a better response to the pandemic cannot be ignored.
Of course, as an econmetrics student, one cannot disregard the various other factors (health facilities, geographical location, government response, overall immunity of the citizens, etc.) that could have played a role in these countries (led by women) having tackled the crisis better than others. Also, one must not forget historical examples of nations having very violent periods while a woman was at the top (Indira Gandhi during the Emergency in India, 1971; Burmese state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi for her role in the genocide of minorities in Mynamar, 2017).
Nevertheless, in my own research I have shown empirically that an increased presence of women leaders in a country's parliament led to plumetting of trade conflicts irrespective of whether the top leader was a man or a woman. A large body of research on leadership styles of men and women shows that women have a more transformational style of leadership. This becomes evident through the empirical findings of several researchers. For instance, Koch and Fulton (2011) summarise that women are viewed as more politically liberal and are perceived as being more competent on compassion issues such as education, programs for the poor, healthcare, and the environment.
A plausible explanation of the aforesaid phenomenon of women leaders faring better than men in times of health crisis could be that the presence of a female leader may be a signal that a country has more inclusive political institutions and values. While many factors are shaping the ways countries have performed during the Covid-19 crisis, leadershp seems to be a key ingredient. It is a good thing that leadership is being discussed and that women leaders have held the spotight in debates. Also, when the electorate has comparisons available between male and female leaders, a vibrant debate is initiated which can bring more women to the forefront as leaders.