THE POWER OF WHISPERS: A THEORY OF RUMOR, COMMUNICATION, AND REVOLUTION*

Heng Chen, Yang K. Lu and Wing Suen

International Economic Review, 2016, vol. 57, issue 1, 89-116

Abstract: We study how rumors mobilize individuals who take collective action. Rumors may or may not be informative, but they create public topics on which people can exchange their views. Individuals with diverse private information rationally evaluate the informativeness of rumors about regime strength. A rumor against the regime can coordinate a larger mass of attackers if individuals can discuss its veracity than if they cannot. Communication can be so effective that a rumor can have an even greater impact on mobilization than when the same story is fully believed by everybody. However, an extreme rumor can backfire and discourage mobilization.

Date: 2016
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https://doi.org/10.1111/iere.12149

Related works:
Working Paper: The Power of Whispers: A Theory of Rumor, Communication and Revolution (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:iecrev:v:57:y:2016:i:1:p:89-116

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