Does democracy cause gender equality?
利用第二次梵蒂冈大公会议作为外生冲击，估计民主对性别平等的因果效应，发现民主水平提高一个标准差可使性别平等提高五分之三个标准差。
Abstract Does democracy cause gender equality? To address this question, I use the unexpected Second Vatican Council (1962–65) as part of a shock-based identification strategy. The Second Vatican Council brought forward in time transitions to democracy that would have happened anyway and triggered transitions to democracy that would not otherwise have occurred. I use this plausibly exogenous variation in democracy to offer a causal estimate. According to my baseline specification, one standard deviation increase in democracy leads to three-fifths of a standard deviation increase in gender equality. I also peruse qualitative evidence to sketch a causal mechanism.