Internet and Politics: Evidence from U.K. Local Elections and Local Government Policies

Tommaso Valletti, Mattia Nardotto and Alessandro Gavazza

No 10991, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: We empirically study the effects of broadband internet diffusion on local election outcomes and on local government policies using rich data from the U.K. Our analysis shows that the internet has displaced other media with greater news content (i.e., radio and newspapers), thereby decreasing voter turnout, most notably among less-educated and younger individuals. In turn, we find suggestive evidence that local government expenditures and taxes are lower in areas with greater broadband diffusion, particularly expenditures targeted at less-educated voters. Our findings are consistent with the idea that voters' information plays a key role in determining electoral participation, government policies and government size.

Keywords: Media; Voting (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D72 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cdm, nep-cul, nep-ict, nep-pol, nep-reg, nep-soc and nep-ure
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (28)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Internet and Politics: Evidence from U.K. Local Elections and Local Government Policies (2019)
Working Paper: Internet and politics: evidence from U.K. local elections and local government policies (2019)
Working Paper: Internet and Politics: Evidence from U.K. Local Elections and Local Government Policies (2017)
Working Paper: Internet and Politics: Evidence from U.K. Local Elections and Local Government Policies (2017)
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