Media’s Influence on Citizen Demand for Public Goods

B-Tier
Journal: Economic Development & Cultural Change
Year: 2024
Volume: 72
Issue: 4
Pages: 1615 - 1651

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

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

Abstract

Low voter interest in politicians who promise public goods is common in clientelist settings and a challenge to development. We show that access to media can increase interest. Households in Benin, responding to novel survey vignettes, generally support politicians who offer government jobs for a few at the expense of health and education for all. However, some households have exogenously greater access to community radio, which broadcasts programs designed to increase awareness of the importance of health and education. These households express significantly less support for clientelist politicians, indicating a role for media in shifting political equilibria away from clientelism.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:ecdecc:doi:10.1086/725019
Journal Field
Development
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25