Is information power? Using mobile phones and free newspapers during an election in Mozambique

Jenny C. Aker, Paul Collier and Pedro Vicente

NOVAFRICA Working Paper Series from Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Nova School of Business and Economics, NOVAFRICA

Abstract: African elections often reveal low levels of political accountability. We assess different forms of voter education during an election in Mozambique. Three interventions providing information to voters and calling for their electoral participation were randomized; an SMS-based information campaign, an SMS hotline for electoral misconduct, and the distribution of a free newspaper. To measure impact, we look at official electoral results, reports by electoral observers, behavioral and survey data. We find positive effects of all treatments on voter turnout. We observe that the distribution of the newspaper led to more accountability-based participation and to a decrease in electoral problems.

Keywords: Voter education; political economy; cell phones; newspapers; randomized experiment; field experiment; Mozambique; Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D72 O55 P16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 62 pages
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Is Information Power? Using Mobile Phones and Free Newspapers during an Election in Mozambique (2017)
Working Paper: Is Information Power? Using Mobile Phones and Free Newspapers during an Election in Mozambique (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:unl:novafr:wp1304

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