Reality versus propaganda in the formation of beliefs about privatization

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Di Tella, Rafael; Galiani, Sebastian; Schargrodsky, Ernesto
• 署名单位: Harvard University; National Bureau of Economic Research; Washington University (WUSTL); Universidad Torcuato Di Tella
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2011.11.006
• 发表日期: 2012
• 页码: 553-567
• 关键词: beliefs; privatization; propaganda; persuasion

摘要

Argentina privatized most public utilities during the 1990s but re-nationalized the main water company in 2006. We study beliefs about the benefits of the privatization of water services measured immediately after the 2006 nationalization. Negative opinions about privatization prevail. We find that reality can change beliefs: people who had first-hand experience observing the investments made by the privatized company have a better opinion of water privatization (relative to other privatizations) than people who did not gain access to water. The effect, while statistically significant, seems small adding only 0.8 points on a 1-10 scale. Moreover, the effect of priming subjects with government propaganda against privatization has an effect that almost offsets the effect of gaining water. However, our evidence suggests that the presence of firm investments makes beliefs about the benefits of privatization less susceptible to be affected by propaganda. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.