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The Social Dynamics of Collective Action: Evidence from the Captain Swing Riots, 1830-31

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  • Toke Aidt
  • Gabriel Leon
  • Max Satchell

Abstract

Social unrest often erupts suddenly and diffuses quickly. What drives people to overcome their collective action problem and join a riot or protest, turning what is initially a small event into a widespread movement? We address this question by examining the Swing riots of 1830-31. The communication constraints of the time induced spatio-temporal variation in exposure to news about the uprising, allowing us to estimate the role of contagion in the spread of the riots. We find that local (rather than national) sources of information were central in driving contagion, and that this contagion magnified the impact that social and economic fundamentals had on riots by a factor of 2.65. Our historical data allow us to overcome a number of econometric challenges, but the Swing riots are of independent interest as well: they contributed to the passage of the Great Reform Act, a key step in Britain’s institutional development.

Suggested Citation

  • Toke Aidt & Gabriel Leon & Max Satchell, 2017. "The Social Dynamics of Collective Action: Evidence from the Captain Swing Riots, 1830-31," CESifo Working Paper Series 6773, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_6773
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    9. Camilo García-Jimeno & Angel Iglesias & Pinar Yildirim, 2022. "Information Networks and Collective Action: Evidence from the Women's Temperance Crusade," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 112(1), pages 41-80, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    riots; diffusion; conflict; contagion; Captain Swing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance

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