Does Local Political Representation Affect the Childcare Coverage Rate in Austrian Municipalities?

Abstract

Abstract Historically, the provision of childcare has been a forgotten area of Austrian family policy. During the last decade, much effort was made to catch up with other European countries, but notable differences persist between Austrian regions and municipalities. This article engages the following question: does local political representation affect the public childcare coverage rate in Austrian municipalities? Based on a unique longitudinal data set (2003–2018) containing yearly measures for 1,789 Austrian municipalities, several hierarchical regression models are calculated. The results reveal a positive effect of women and left-party share in the local councils as well as an interaction effect between the two. The findings suggest that women have an impact on the share of children in public childcare only in a right-wing-dominated political sphere.