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The price of silence: Media competition, capture, and electoral accountability

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  • Trombetta, Federico
  • Rossignoli, Domenico

Abstract

Is competition in the mass media market an effective deterrent against media capture? Does it prevent political groups from influencing reporting? This paper shows that in some cases it does not. Building on the literature on media capture, the model highlights that, under fairly generic assumptions, high competition in the media market can drive the cost of media capture to zero, making capture easier. Moreover, it highlights conditions on the parameters where the effect of competition on capture is non-monotonic, i.e. capture may occur for levels of competition lower, but also higher, than those leading to media freedom.

Suggested Citation

  • Trombetta, Federico & Rossignoli, Domenico, 2021. "The price of silence: Media competition, capture, and electoral accountability," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:poleco:v:69:y:2021:i:c:s0176268020300872
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2020.101939
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    Cited by:

    1. Corduneanu Huci,Cristina & Hamilton,Alexander James, 2018. "Selective control : the political economy of censorship," Policy Research Working Paper Series 8556, The World Bank.
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    3. Arseniy Samsonov, 2021. "The fragmentation of views in a democracy," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 215-256, September.
    4. Gradwohl, Ronen & Heller, Yuval & Hillman, Arye, 2025. "How social media can undermine democracy," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • D78 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Positive Analysis of Policy Formulation and Implementation
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media

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