American Economic Journal:
Economic Policy
ISSN 1945-7731 (Print) | ISSN 1945-774X (Online)
Trickle-Down Ethnic Politics: Drunk and Absent in the Kenya Police Force (1957-1970)
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
vol. 10,
no. 3, August 2018
(pp. 388–417)
(Complimentary)
Abstract
How does ethnic politics affect the state's ability to provide policing services? Using a panel of administrative personnel data on the full careers of 6,784 police officers, we show how the rise of ethnic politics around Kenya's independence influenced policemen's behavior. We find a significant deterioration in discipline after Kenya's first multiparty election for those police officers of ethnic groups associated with the ruling party. These effects are driven by a behavioral change among these policemen. We find no evidence of favoritism within the police. Instead, our results are consistent with co-ethnic officers experiencing an emboldenment effect. Our findings highlight that the state's security apparatus, at its most granular level, is not insulated from ethnic politics.Citation
Vanden Eynde, Oliver, Patrick M. Kuhn, and Alexander Moradi. 2018. "Trickle-Down Ethnic Politics: Drunk and Absent in the Kenya Police Force (1957-1970)." American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 10 (3): 388–417. DOI: 10.1257/pol.20160384Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D72 Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
- J15 Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
- K42 Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
- O15 Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
- O17 Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
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