Does gender have any effect on political crowdfunding? An empirical analysis from India

Abstract Crowdfunding has seen a steep growth in the past decade. The basic principle of crowdfunding is fundraising from a large crowd. The political activities of a party or a candidate often require funds that are difficult to secure. In the 2008 campaign, Barak Obama raised around $500 million through crowdfunding. This study aims to examine the role of gender (through political interest, political efficacy, political awareness, and political party affiliation) in shaping the intention of people to participate in political crowdfunding (PCF) while measuring their level of political engagement. The study collected data from 374 respondents from India, the most populous democracy in the world. The results suggest that political interest and political awareness have a positive relationship with PCF participation. The study further reveals that the relationship is stronger in the case of women than in the case of men on these two parameters. The study also suggests that education can help promote women’s online political participation through crowdfunding. The study will be helpful for political parties/candidates and crowdfunding platforms to understand the factors that can boost fundraising campaigns through crowdfunding.