Political polarization, ethnicity, and economic discrimination in the labor market: An empirical analysis based on field experiments in a fragile state

The research investigates the link between political polarization, ethnicity, and economic disparities in fragile states, focusing on a case study from Togo. Two methodological approaches were used. The first approach is based on field experiments with differences in mean method, while the second approach is based on an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model allowing for interaction effect analysis with robust standards errors. The field experiment involved 200 university graduates in the Northern region of Togo, with 100 resumes disclosing political affiliations set as the treatment group and the other 100 as the control group that does not disclose political affiliations. The results showed that political partisanship reduces the likelihood of resume acceptance, particularly when combined with specific recruiter and candidate characteristics, such as ethnicity and gender. While the candidate's ethnicity, gender, and academic background positively influence it. The findings suggest that political polarization exacerbates economic inequalities, emphasizing the need to eliminate bias based on political affiliation in recruitment processes. The study advocates for inclusive policies and education reforms to support sustainable economic development