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Misperceptions and Fake News during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Kerim Peren Arin
  • Juan A. Lacomba
  • Francisco Lagos
  • Deni Mazrekaj
  • Marcel Thum

Abstract

By conducting large-scale surveys in four European countries, we investigate the determinants of right- and left-wing misperceptions as well as fake news exposure and sharing. We also shed light on how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced both misperceptions and fake news. Our results indicate that people substantially overestimate the share of immigrants, Muslims, people under the poverty line, and the income share of the richest. Female, lower-income, and lower-educated respondents have higher misperceptions, whereas the higher-educated, male, married, right-wing and, younger respondents share fake news more often, both intentionally and unintentionally. The COVID-19 pandemic increased fake news sharing and amplified right-wing misperceptions.

Suggested Citation

  • Kerim Peren Arin & Juan A. Lacomba & Francisco Lagos & Deni Mazrekaj & Marcel Thum, 2021. "Misperceptions and Fake News during the Covid-19 Pandemic," CESifo Working Paper Series 9066, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_9066
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    Cited by:

    1. Kerim Peren Arin & Juan A. Lacomba & Francisco Lagos & Deni Mazrekaj & Marcel Thum, 2022. "Hohe Fehlwahrnehmungen zu wichtigen politischen Themen in der Bevölkerung," ifo Dresden berichtet, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 29(02), pages 10-14, April.
    2. Giuseppina Lo Moro & Giacomo Scaioli & Fabrizio Bert & Andrea Lorenzo Zacchero & Ettore Minutiello & Roberta Siliquini, 2022. "Exploring the Relationship between COVID-19 Vaccine Refusal and Belief in Fake News and Conspiracy Theories: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-12, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Covid-19; lockdown; misperceptions; fake news;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D70 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - General
    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • H12 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Crisis Management
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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