Discrimination in post-conflict settings: Experimental evidence from Colombia. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Unfried, Kerstin; Ibañez Diaz, Marcela; Restrepo-Plaza, Lina Maria
• Is Part Of: World development. Volume 154(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Discrimination -- Colombia -- Peace process -- Reintegration; Economic history -- 1990- -- Periodicals; Economic assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; 330.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.105877
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-750X

Abstract

Highlights: We study the willingness of the civil population to support the process of peace-building in Colombia. We show that university students do not discriminate against ex-combatants and are willing to support their business ideas. However, we detect a substantial degree of prejudice, and participants prefer to avoid personal encounters with ex-combatants. We provide novel evidence on the NIMBY phenomenon -Not-in-my-backyard- in the reintegration process. Abstract: After a civil war, community support for the reintegration of ex-combatants is crucial for peace-building. Using a crowdfunding campaign to promote trainees' business ideas, we investigate whether university students discriminate against ex-combatants in Colombia. Our results show that there is no discrimination against ex-combatants in terms of donations compared with other trainees, but there is a substantial degree of prejudice and skepticism. This finding suggests that the reintegration of ex-combatants might be affected by the NIMBY phenomena. Although willing to economically support the peace process, individuals are skeptical towards personal encounters with ex-combatants. This suggest that to achieve sustainable peace, policies should focus on decreasing stigmatization towards ex-combatants.