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Voting behavior and the terrestrial digital divide

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  • Belloc, Marianna

Abstract

In this paper, we explore the impact of the advent of the digital television on political selection and voting behavior in Italian municipal elections. To this aim, we exploit a unique quasi-experiment offered by the idiosyncratic deadlines to switch from analog to digital TV in Italian cities. We find that, when proper account is taken of possible omitted variables and local trends, the advent of the terrestrial digital television did not affect in a statistically significant way the quality of elected local politicians, but lowered voter turnout.

Suggested Citation

  • Belloc, Marianna, 2018. "Voting behavior and the terrestrial digital divide," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 14-17.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:167:y:2018:i:c:p:14-17
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2018.02.027
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Terrestrial digital television; New information technologies; Political selection; Voter turnout;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • H70 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - General
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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