Politics 2.0: the Multifaceted Effect of Broadband Internet on Political Participation

Filipe Campante, Ruben Durante () and Francesco Sobbrio
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Ruben Durante: ECON - Département d'économie (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, CEPREMAP - Centre pour la recherche économique et ses applications - ECO ENS-PSL - Département d'économie de l'ENS-PSL - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres

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Abstract: We investigate the causal impact of broadband Internet on political participation using data from Italy. We show that this impact varies across different forms of political engagement and over time. Initially, broadband had a negative effect on turnout in national elections, driven by increased abstention of ideologically extreme voters. Meanwhile, however, broadband fostered other forms of online and offline participation. Over time, the negative effect was reverted due to the emergence of new political entrepreneurs who used the Internet to convert the initial "exit" back into "voice". Overall, these nuanced effects underscore the general equilibrium dynamic induced by the Internet.

Date: 2013-12-01
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://sciencespo.hal.science/hal-03460674v1
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Related works:
Journal Article: Politics 2.0: The Multifaceted Effect of Broadband Internet on Political Participation (2018)
Working Paper: Politics 2.0: The Multifaceted Effect of Broadband Internet on Political Participation (2018)
Working Paper: Politics 2.0: The Multifaceted Effect of Broadband Internet on Political Participation (2018)
Working Paper: Politics 2.0: The Multifaceted Effect of Broadband Internet on Political Participation (2013)
Working Paper: Politics 2.0: the Multifaceted Effect of Broadband Internet on Political Participation (2013)
Working Paper: Politics 2.0: The Multifaceted Effect of Broadband Internet on Political Participation (2013)
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