Economic inequalities in society are reflected in electoral competition. An analysis by the Partnership for Development Center of candidates' incomes and assets shows that, on average, a woman candidate in the 2025 parliamentary elections reported an annual income about 33% less than the average income of a man candidate. Although women represent almost half of all candidates, they account for only about 40% of the income declared by all candidates and are much less likely to own property or financial assets.

The study was developed as part of the project "Strengthening Democratic Resilience in Moldova," implemented by UNDP Moldova in partnership with UN Women Moldova and funded by Norway, Canada, Sweden, and Denmark.

The main conclusions of the study are:

1. Income gap: The average woman candidate in the 2025 elections reported an average annual income of approximately 280,700 lei, about 33% less than the average man candidate (417,500 lei).
2. Salary is the primary source of income for all candidates: approximately 50% of the cumulative income of candidates (women and men) comes from salaries earned at their primary place of work, this remuneration being by far the most important source of income. The next largest category is other legal income—pensions, allowances, bonuses, scholarships, royalties, etc.—which accounts for about one-fifth (20%) of total declared income.
3. Assets and property: Women candidates are much less likely to own land, real estate, or vehicles. The proportion of women who own such assets is considerably lower than that of men. Furthermore, the assets owned by women have a lower average value. For example, the average size of women candidates' homes is 129 m², compared to 165 m² for men.
4. Limited financial access for women candidates: Very few women candidates are present in the business or banking sectors. Only 13.8% of women candidates report owning shares in a company, compared to 27.2% of men candidates. Similarly, approximately 12% of women candidates have bank accounts, compared to 19% of men candidates, suggesting lower participation by women in the formal financial system.
5. Men dominate financially at the top of the lists: The income gap becomes even more pronounced at the top of the candidate lists. In the top spots, a man candidate declared an average income of around 707,000 lei, almost double that of a woman candidate (around 370,000 lei).
6. Slow progress: Although gender economic gaps are slowly narrowing, with an increase in the average income of women candidates compared to 2021, gender inequalities persist. The study concludes that sustained public policy measures are needed to correct these imbalances.