Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/295753 
Year of Publication: 
2024
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 16730
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Although unequal treatment of workers based on political affiliation is prohibited in many countries, it is conspicuously understudied in the discrimination literature. In this study, we set up a vignette experiment with genuine recruiters to provide more insight into the effect of political engagement in job applicants on the assessment of their resumes by these professionals. We find that, overall, recruiters view an applicant as less creative, open-minded, empathetic and emotionally sensitive when a political engagement is expressed. These stigma are greater for candidates with a right-wing nationalist commitment. Relatedly, these candidates are assessed worse in terms of overall hireability and perceived inclination or taste among employers, colleagues and customers to collaborate with them. They are, however, seen as somewhat more assertive. In contrast to research conducted in one- or two-party systems, we do not find interactions with the political preference of the recruiter herself/himself. Overall, the effect of mentioning a political engagement in a resume is more negative when the required education level of the vacancy is high.
Subjects: 
hiring discrimination
political preference
vignette experiment
JEL: 
D72
J21
J71
P16
C91
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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