Persistent Polarizing Effects of Persuasion: Experimental Evidence from Turkey

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Baysan, Ceren
• 署名单位: University of Toronto
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0002-8282
• DOI: 10.1257/aer.20201892
• 发表日期: 2022
• 页码: 3528-3546
• 关键词: media; polarization; INFORMATION; mobility; CHOICE; BIAS

摘要

I evaluate randomly varied neighborhood exposure to information campaigns regarding either executive performance, or increases in executive power, prior to a Turkish referendum on weakening checks and balances on the executive. The campaigns increased voter polarization over the referendum, and subsequently changed party affiliation in national and local elections over the next two years, leading to partisan polarization. My results suggest that, when vot-ers disagree on whether increasing executive power is a good pol-icy, more information can increase voter polarization. Finally, I conclude that because potential polarization is often ignored, the impact of information campaigns on civil society is underestimated. (JEL D72, D83, O17)