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Can Television Reduce Xenophobia? The Case of East Germany

Author

Listed:
  • Lars Hornuf
  • Marc Oliver Rieger
  • Sven A. Hartmann

Abstract

Can television have a mitigating effect on xenophobia? To explore this question, we investigate a natural experiment in which individuals in some regions of East Germany could not—due to their geographic location—consume West German television until 1989. By analyzing survey data from the periods before and after German reunification, we provide evidence that individuals who received West German television during the GDR period and were thus more frequently exposed to foreign media have developed less xenophobia. We document that West German television programs positively affected individuals’ attitudes towards foreigners and led to a higher likelihood of supporting refugees, for example by donating money to refugee aid. In addition to the survey evidence, we show that regions that could receiveWest German television before reunification were less likely to vote for extreme right-wing parties during the national elections from 1990 to 2017, and experienced fewer criminal offenses against refugees.

Suggested Citation

  • Lars Hornuf & Marc Oliver Rieger & Sven A. Hartmann, 2017. "Can Television Reduce Xenophobia? The Case of East Germany," CESifo Working Paper Series 6632, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_6632
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    Cited by:

    1. Hartmann, Sven A., 2024. "Television and family demography: Evidence from a natural experiment in East Germany," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    2. Gallegos Torres, Katia, 2023. "The 2015 refugee inflow and concerns over immigration," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    3. Bernini, Andrea & Hartmann, Sven A., 2025. "The effect of West German television on smoking and health: A natural experiment from German reunification," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    4. Gäbler, Stefanie & Kellermann, Kim Leonie, 2025. "Administrative areas and regional identity formation: The case of East Germany," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    5. Chadi, Adrian & Hoffmann, Manuel, 2026. "Television, health, and happiness: A natural experiment in West Germany," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    6. Gianluca Cerruti & Simone Robbiano, 2024. "Presence of Migrants and Voting Behavior in Europe: An Overview of the Empirical Literature," Economia Internazionale / International Economics, Camera di Commercio Industria Artigianato Agricoltura di Genova, vol. 77(4), pages 515-554.
    7. Kellermann, Kim Leonie, 2024. "Trust we lost: The impact of the Treuhand experience on political alienation in East Germany," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(1), pages 54-75.
    8. Hartmann, Sven A., 2026. "Fog or smog? The impact of uncensored reporting on pollution on individuals’ environmental preferences," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    9. Omar Martin Fieles-Ahmad & Michael Kvasnica, 2026. "Western TV and Crimes against Foreigners in East Germany," FEMM Working Papers 26009, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Faculty of Economics and Management.
    10. Robert Gillanders & Glenn McNamara, 2024. "Smartphones and attitudes to intimate partner violence: Evidence from Africa," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 77(2), pages 411-427, May.
    11. Slavtchev, Viktor & Wyrwich, Michael, 2023. "The effects of TV content on entrepreneurship: Evidence from German unification," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(2), pages 696-721.
    12. Ariely, Dan & Garcia-Rada, Ximena & Gödker, Katrin & Hornuf, Lars & Mann, Heather, 2019. "The impact of two different economic systems on dishonesty," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 179-195.
    13. Fieles-Ahmad, Omar & Kvasnicka, Michael, 2026. "Western TV and Crimes against Foreigners in East Germany," IZA Discussion Papers 18648, IZA Network @ LISER.
    14. Paul Hunermund & Ann Hipp, 2024. "Inventor Mobility After the Fall of the Berlin Wall," Papers 2409.01861, arXiv.org, revised Jan 2025.
    15. Viktor Slavtchev & Michael Wyrwich, 2017. "TV and Entrepreneurship," Jena Economics Research Papers 2017-007, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.

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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
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media
    • P30 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions - - - General

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