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Fact-checking Politicians

Author

Listed:
  • Andrea Mattozzi

    (University of Bologna, Italy; CEPR; Rimini Centre for Economic Analysis)

  • Samuel Nocito

    (Sapienza University of Rome, Italy)

  • Francesco Sobbrio

    (Tor Vergata University of Rome, Italy; CESifo)

Abstract

We study the reaction of national politicians to rigorous fact-checking of their public statements. Our research design relies on a novel randomized field experiment conducted in collaboration with a leading fact-checking company. Our results show that fact-checking discourages politicians from making factually incorrect statements, with effects lasting several weeks. At the same time, we document that fact-checking neither increases nor displaces correct statements. Instead, fact-checked politicians tend to substitute incorrect statements with either no statements or with unverifiable ones. This suggests that they also respond by increasing the “ambiguity” of their language to escape the possibility of public scrutiny.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrea Mattozzi & Samuel Nocito & Francesco Sobbrio, 2024. "Fact-checking Politicians," Working Paper series 24-14, Rimini Centre for Economic Analysis.
    • Handle: RePEc:rim:rimwps:24-14
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fact-Checking; Politicians; Accountability; Verifiability; Ambiguity; RCT;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D78 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Positive Analysis of Policy Formulation and Implementation
    • D8 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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