Media competition and electoral politics

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Piolatto, Amedeo; Schuett, Florian
• 署名单位: University of Barcelona; Tilburg University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2015.04.003
• 发表日期: 2015
• 页码: 80-93
• 关键词: Demand for news; Electoral turnout; Group-rule utilitarianism; media bias

摘要

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. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.