DO GENDER QUOTAS BREAK OR RAISE THE GLASS CEILING?

Using evidence from France, this paper argues that gender quotas mechanically attract new women in politics but fail to trigger a self-sustained dynamics that would help women climb the ladder. I analyze the impact of two gender quotas which were first introduced in 2001 in municipalities above 3,500 inhabitants and extended in 2014 to municipalities between 1,000 and 3,500 inhabitants. They both imposed 50% of women in candidate lists. I find that they largely increased the share of female municipal councillors but did not lead to an increase in the number of women at the next hierarchical level: the position of mayor.