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The Limits of Propaganda: Evidence from Chavez’s Venezuela

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  • Brian Knight
  • Ana Tribin

Abstract

We investigate viewer responses to ideological changes in television programming induced by cadenas, unannounced government propaganda in Venezuela. The drop-off in ratings during cadenas is concentrated among viewers of news programming on opposition channels, relative to progovernment channels. Also, the drop-off in ratings for moderate channels takes an intermediate value. The drop-off is stronger for viewers with access to cable channels, which do not air cadenas and experience an increase in viewership during cadenas. Structural estimation of our model allows us to quantify the degree to which opposition viewers limit their exposure to and ultimately the influence of propaganda via tuning out.

Suggested Citation

  • Brian Knight & Ana Tribin, 2019. "The Limits of Propaganda: Evidence from Chavez’s Venezuela," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 17(2), pages 567-605.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jeurec:v:17:y:2019:i:2:p:567-605.
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    Cited by:

    1. Georgy Egorov & Konstantin Sonin, 2024. "The Political Economics of Non-democracy," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 62(2), pages 594-636, June.
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    3. Andrea Bernini, 2020. "The Voice of Radio in the Battle for Equal Rights: Evidence from the U.S. South," Oxford Economic and Social History Working Papers _181, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    4. Brian Knight & Ana Tribin, 2022. "Opposition Media, State Censorship, and Political Accountability: Evidence from Chavez’s Venezuela," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 36(2), pages 455-487.
    5. Andrea Bernini, 2023. "The voice of radio in the battle for equal rights: Evidence from the U.S. South," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(1), pages 163-226, March.
    6. Di Tella, Rafael & Galiani, Sebastian & Schargrodsky, Ernesto, 2021. "Persuasive propaganda during the 2015 Argentine Ballotage," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(4), pages 885-900.
    7. Marcel Garz & Jonna Rickardsson, 2023. "Ownership and media slant: Evidence from Swedish newspapers," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 76(1), pages 18-40, February.
    8. Dorothy Kronick & Francisco Rodríguez, 2023. "Political Conflict and Economic Growth in Post-independence Venezuela," Springer Books, in: Felipe Valencia Caicedo (ed.), Roots of Underdevelopment, pages 317-346, Springer.
    9. Gregory J. Martin & Nicola Mastrorocco & Joshua McCrain & Arianna Ornaghi, 2024. "Media Consolidation," CESifo Working Paper Series 11356, CESifo.

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    JEL classification:

    • D6 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics
    • D70 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - General
    • D8 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty

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