Abstract

We use a unique dataset from a census of 299 wholesale markets in 8 Nigerian states spread over the poorer and more culturally conservative North and the relatively more affluent and developed South. This dataset includes 471 product-level governance structures such as tomato and fish trader associations and overall market management committees. We find few women are in top leadership positions in the markets, particularly in the North, despite women’s widespread employment in the markets as traders. Three main factors influence women’s leadership involvement: active participation in trading; the market’s practice of electing leaders; and cultural norms proxied by the regional location of the market. These results inform potential strategies that policy makers, donors, and markets can leverage to support women’s engagement in market leadership.