Ideological Segregation Online and Offline

Matthew Gentzkow and Jesse Shapiro

No 15916, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We use individual and aggregate data to ask how the Internet is changing the ideological segregation of the American electorate. Focusing on online news consumption, offline news consumption, and face-to-face social interactions, we define ideological segregation in each domain using standard indices from the literature on racial segregation. We find that ideological segregation of online news consumption is low in absolute terms, higher than the segregation of most offline news consumption, and significantly lower than the segregation of face-to-face interactions with neighbors, co-workers, or family members. We find no evidence that the Internet is becoming more segregated over time.

JEL-codes: D83 L86 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cdm, nep-soc and nep-ure
Note: IO POL
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (15)

Published as “Ideological Segregation Online and Offline” (with Jesse M. Shapiro). Quarterly Journal of Economics. 126(4). November 2011.

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