The Impact of Asymmetric Information Among Competing Insurgent Groups: Estimating an 'Emboldenment' Effect

Radha Iyengar

CEP Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Performance, LSE

Abstract: This paper uses asymmetric access to information to test if an insurgency is factionalized. If it is factionalized, regional variation in information should influence attack levels as groups use violence to compete over visibility, resources and support. Using plausibly exogenous variation in satellite access, we show that attacks increased after the release of information on satellite television about US commitment to remain in Iraq. Because insurgents shift attacks toward more difficult (military) targets, the relative increase in attacks is offset by fewer total fatalities. Our findings illustrate that insurgent groups may be decentralized strategic actors subject to competitive forces.

Keywords: Iraq war; asymmetric information; media and violence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F51 F52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-10
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp1018

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