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Information Networks and Collective Action: Evidence from the Women's Temperance Crusade

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  • Camilo García-Jimeno
  • Angel Iglesias
  • Pinar Yildirim

Abstract

How do social interactions shape collective action, and how are they mediated by networked information technologies? We answer these questions studying the Temperance Crusade, a wave of anti-liquor protest activity spreading across 29 states between 1873 and 1874. Relying on exogenous variation in network links generated by railroad accidents, we provide causal evidence of social interactions driving the diffusion of the movement, mediated by rail and telegraph information about neighboring activity. Local newspaper coverage of the crusade was a key channel mediating these effects. Using an event-study methodology, we find strong complementarities between rail and telegraph networks in driving the movement's spread.

Suggested Citation

  • Camilo García-Jimeno & Angel Iglesias & Pinar Yildirim, 2022. "Information Networks and Collective Action: Evidence from the Women's Temperance Crusade," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 112(1), pages 41-80, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:112:y:2022:i:1:p:41-80
    DOI: 10.1257/aer.20180124
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    Cited by:

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    2. Pengl, Yannick I. & Muller-Crepon, Carl & Valli, Roberto & Cederman, Lars-Erik & Girardin, Luc, 2025. "The train wrecks of modernization: railway construction and separatist mobilization in Europe," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 127734, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Flückiger, Matthias & Ludwig, Markus, 2025. "The structure of online social networks and social movements: Evidence from the Black Lives Matter protests," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    4. Camilo Garcia-Jimeno & Sahar Parsa, 2024. "Cultural Change Through Writing Style: Gendered Pronoun Use in the Economics Profession," Working Paper Series WP 2024-23, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
    5. Artís, Annalí Casanueva & Avetian, Vladimir & Sardoschau, Sulin & Saxena, Kavya, 2022. "Social Media and the Broadening of Social Movements: Evidence from Black Lives Matter," IZA Discussion Papers 15812, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • L92 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Railroads and Other Surface Transportation
    • L96 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Telecommunications
    • N31 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • N41 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • N71 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913

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