Media competition and electoral politics
Piolatto,A. Schütt,F.
Piolatto,A.
Schütt,F.
Abstract
We build a framework linking competition in the media market to political participation. Media outlets report on the ability of candidates running for office and compete for audience through their choice of slant. Citizens consume news only if the expected utility of being informed about candidates' ability is sufficiently large for their group collectively. Our results can reconcile seemingly contradictory empirical evidence showing that entry in the media market can either increase or decrease turnout. While information pushes up independent turnout, partisans adjust their turnout to the ability of their preferred candidate, and on average they vote less when informed
Description
Date
2015-10
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
Demand for news, D - Microeconomics, SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Citation
Piolatto, A & Schütt, F 2015, 'Media competition and electoral politics', Journal of Public Economics, vol. 130, pp. 80-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2015.04.003