Digital Dystopia

S-Tier
Journal: American Economic Review
Year: 2021
Volume: 111
Issue: 6
Pages: 2007-48

Score contribution per author:

8.043 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Autocratic regimes, democratic majorities, private platforms, and religious or professional organizations can achieve social control by managing the flow of information about individuals' behavior. Bundling the agents' political, organizational, or religious attitudes with information about their prosocial conduct makes them care about behaviors that they otherwise would not. The incorporation of the individuals' social graph in their social score further promotes soft control but destroys the social fabric. Both bundling and guilt by association are most effective in a society that has weak ties and is politically docile.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aecrev:v:111:y:2021:i:6:p:2007-48
Journal Field
General
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-29