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Media Freedom and Socio-Political Instability

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  • Pal Sudeshna

    (Georgia College and State University)

Abstract

Free media may reduce incidents of socio-political instability. Different types of socio-political instability have been shown to have a negative effect on investment and economic growth. This study examines the effect of free media on various indicators of socio-political instability. Using a panel of 98 countries over 1994-2005, this study shows that media free from government control and interference may decrease different forms of socio-political instability because it puts internal and external pressure on self-interested governments to act in the best interests of citizens—rather than their own. The empirical results suggest that a freer media is associated with lower levels of socio-political instability as measured by ethnic tensions, external and internal conflicts, crime and disorder, military participation in government and religious tensions. The estimates are robust to several sensitivity tests.

Suggested Citation

  • Pal Sudeshna, 2011. "Media Freedom and Socio-Political Instability," Peace Economics, Peace Science, and Public Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 17(1), pages 1-23, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:pepspp:v:17:y:2011:i:1:n:3
    DOI: 10.2202/1554-8597.1196
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    2. Rodolphe Desbordes & Vincenzo Verardi, 2017. "Foreign Direct Investment and Democracy: A Robust Fixed Effects Approach to a Complex Relationship," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(1), pages 43-82, February.
    3. Abed Masrorkhah, Sara & Lehnert, Thorsten, 2017. "Press freedom and jumps in stock prices," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 151-162.
    4. Munjal, Surender & Varma, Sumati & Bhatnagar, Ankur, 2022. "A comparative analysis of Indian and Chinese FDI into Africa: The role of governance and alliances," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 1018-1033.
    5. Evguenii Zazdravnykh, 2014. "Market size of the media industry and freedom of press: an empirical study," Economics and Business Letters, Oviedo University Press, vol. 3(2), pages 109-114.

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