Media’s role in the making of a democrat: Evidence from East Germany |
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| Institution: | 1. University of Marburg, Public Economics Group, Am Plan 2, 35037 Marburg, Germany. CESifo, Munich, Germany. EconomiX, Paris, France;2. University of Marburg, Public Economics Group, Am Plan 2, 35037 Marburg, Germany;3. ifo Institute for Economic Research, Poschingerstr. 5, 81679 Munich, Germany. University of Munich, Germany. CESifo, Munich, Germany;1. Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC), EUREF Campus 19, Torgauer Str. 12-15, Berlin 10829, Germany;2. IZA, Bonn, Germany;3. Leibniz Institut für Ost- und Südosteuropaforschung (IOS), Landshuter Str. 4, Regensburg 93047, Germany;4. Department of Economics, University of Bologna, Strada Maggiore 45, Bologna 40125, Italy;5. National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia;1. University of Bayreuth, Germany and CREMA – Center for Research in Economics, Management, and the Arts, Switzerland;2. Indiana University, USA;3. Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, Agroscope, Switzerland and CREMA – Center for Research in Economics, Management, and the Arts, Switzerland;1. School of Business, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, United States of America;2. Department of Economics and Finance, UNCW Cameron School of Business, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403, United States of America |
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| Abstract: | This paper explores the causal influence of media content on voting behavior. We exploit a natural experiment involving access to West German TV within the German Democratic Republic. Focusing on federal and state election outcomes in the post-reunification decade (i.e., a time at which TV content was harmonized), we find that municipalities that had access to Western TV broadcasts before reunification have lower vote shares for left-wing and right-wing extremist parties. With regard to potential channels, we provide evidence based on survey data that GDR citizens with access to West German TV were less loyal to the socialist regime, less hostile toward foreigners, and exhibited higher levels of social capital. Our findings thus support the notion that access to free media influences political attitudes and facilitates the consolidation of democracy. |
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