Active political engagement, political patronage and local labour markets – The example of Shkoder

Bibliographic Data

ID23200032
AuthorsElvisa Drishti (0000-0001-6530-1777, University of Shkodra "Luigj Gurakuqi"), Bresena Kopliku (0000-0002-2529-6122, University of Shkodra "Luigj Gurakuqi"), Drini Imami (0000-0002-4716-792X, Agricultural University of Tirana)
Year2023
Volume44
Issue6
Pages1118-1142
Publication date2023-11-09
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Manpower (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0143-7720 • E-ISSN: 1758-6577
PublisherEmerald (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1108/ijm-06-2021-0362
OpenAlexW4229014938
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited56

Purpose This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of the effects of active political engagement in port-of-entry jobs and employment pathways for graduate students in a post-communist context which is characterized by clientelism. The data are derived from a structured survey of a small local labour market where political clientelism is pronounced due to the strong network ties. Controlling for both demand and supply factors, the authors identify a profile for those who are more prone to engage politically in exchange for public sector jobs, which are in turn vulnerable to regime changes. Design/methodology/approach The authors use data from a sample of 191 students that records month-to-month employment states for three consecutive years (2012–2014). The method attempts to replicate an experimental design with repeated measures before and after the June 2013 government elections. The data is analysed using sequence analysis with optimal matching and difference-in-difference methods. Findings The analysis provides evidence of links between political engagement and selection onto different employment pathways under conditions of political clientelism. The pathways themselves are also shown to be differentially impacted by the 2013 election (positively or negatively). Together, these results are supportive of claims that jobs in Albania, particularly those in the public sector, are linked to the short-term presence of vote-buying. This is shown to be the case even for this sample of educated members of the labour force (i.e. university graduates). The analysis also finds evidence of accumulative disadvantages over time, in relation to subjective perceptions of life satisfaction, migration intentions, employability and success in life, as a result of active political engagement. Originality/value The study uses a unique data set and a novel methodological approach, sequence analysis. Occupational history calendars were used to capture quantitative information recording detailed work histories. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this innovative method has not been used before to measure the temporal effects of political engagement on employment pathways.

Clientelism · Context (archaeology) · Democracy · Demographic economics · Economics · Labour economics · Matching (statistics) · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sample (material) · Survey data collection · Law · Social and Cultural Dynamics · Social Capital and Networks · Social Policy and Reform Studies

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