Leading change: The impact of female officials on the rural toilet revolution in China

Abstract

With the advancement of the economy and society, the role of women in governing rural societies has become increasingly prominent. This study utilizes large-scale data from administrative villages, obtained through China's agricultural census, and employs the endogenous switching regression model and various treatment effect models to explore the impact of female officials on the rural toilet revolution and its underlying mechanisms. The results suggest that female officials can drive the rural toilet revolution, a conclusion that remains robust after a series of robust tests. Additionally, heterogeneity analysis reveals that female officials are more effective in promoting the toilet revolution in economically backward western regions, in villages with concentrated power in the hands of the village secretary, and in smaller villages. Furthermore, in villages not inclined to accept female officials, women encounter significant challenges in advancing the toilet revolution. The positive impact of female officials changes non-linearly with the increase in the proportion of women among village officials, and there is an optimal proportion. Moreover, causal mediation analysis reveals that female officials promote the toilet revolution by fostering collective action within the village and alleviating poverty. These findings provide insights for formulating policies to improve rural sanitation facilities.