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Political favoritism in post-conflict settings : evidence from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover

Author

Listed:
  • Ha, Krystal

    (Monash University)

Abstract

I examine political favoritism based on prior support during conflicts. In particular, I identify whether or not the new Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which took over in August 2021, is systematically favoring its past allies using a difference-in-differences method. I proxy economic activity using nighttime light intensity and conflict alignment using a database of 75,915 militarily significant conflict events occurring in Afghanistan from 2004-2009. I find evidence that the Taliban are discriminating against their former enemies. I also find evidence that the Taliban are actively favouring their past allies in periods of low economic activity. This paper augments the literature on political favoritism by creating a new measure for political alignment and also suggests that the Taliban could be contributing to regional instability through favoritism.

Suggested Citation

  • Ha, Krystal, 2024. "Political favoritism in post-conflict settings : evidence from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover," Warwick-Monash Economics Student Papers 73, Warwick Monash Economics Student Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:wrk:wrkesp:73
    as

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    File URL: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/wmesp/manage/73_-_krystal_ha.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Christopher Cramer & Jonathan Goodhand, 2002. "Try Again, Fail Again, Fail Better? War, the State, and the ‘Post–Conflict’ Challenge in Afghanistan," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 33(5), pages 885-909, November.
    2. Niels Terpstra, 2020. "Rebel governance, rebel legitimacy, and external intervention: assessing three phases of Taliban rule in Afghanistan," Small Wars and Insurgencies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(6), pages 1143-1173, August.
    3. Chung, Seung-hun & Partridge, Mark, 2023. "Are short-term cultural shocks persistent? Taliban rule and long-run human capital accumulation," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 18-49.
    4. Andrei Markevich & Natalya Naumenko & Nancy Qian, 2021. "The Causes of Ukrainian Famine Mortality, 1932-33," NBER Working Papers 29089, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Quoc-Anh Do & Kieu-Trang Nguyen & Anh N. Tran, 2017. "One Mandarin Benefits the Whole Clan: Hometown Favoritism in an Authoritarian Regime," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 9(4), pages 1-29, October.
    6. Jo Thori Lind & Karl Ove Moene & Fredik Willumsen, 2014. "Opium for the Masses? Conflict-Induced Narcotics Production in Afghanistan," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 96(5), pages 949-966, December.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • F51 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Conflicts; Negotiations; Sanctions

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