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Paying Not to Know: News Avoidance in Times of War

Author

Listed:
  • Levy, Ro'ee
  • Shayo, Moses
  • Yanay, Guy

Abstract

Do individuals at war avoid news about outgroup victims? Would such news affect them if they were exposed to it? We study Israelis and Jordanians during the 2023-2025 Gaza war. Four findings stand out. First, individuals are substantially less willing to read about outgroup than ingroup civilian victims. Second, news avoidance is driven less by instrumental considerations or universal affective factors, and more by social identity and group norms. Third, reading about outgroup victims increases knowledge, fosters empathy toward the outgroup, and affects policy positions. Finally, these effects arise even among individuals who would rather avoid such news.

Suggested Citation

  • Levy, Ro'ee & Shayo, Moses & Yanay, Guy, 2026. "Paying Not to Know: News Avoidance in Times of War," CEPR Discussion Papers 21869, Centre for Economic Policy Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:21869
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    File URL: https://cepr.org/publications/DP21869
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • P00 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - General - - - General
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media

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