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Mind What Your Voters Read: Media Exposure and International Economic Policy Making

Author

Listed:
  • Giovanni Facchini

    (University of Nottingham, University of Milan, CEPR, CES-Ifo, CrEAM, IZA and)

  • Tommaso Frattini

    (University of Milan, CrEAM, IZA and Centro Studi Luca d�Agliano)

  • Cora Signorotto

    (University of Milan and Centro Studi Luca d�Agliano)

Abstract

e investigate the role of constituents' preferences in shaping the voting behavior of elected representatives on immigration and trade policy. Using a novel dataset spanning the period 1986-2004, in which we match individual opinion surveys with congressmen roll call votes, we find that greater exposure to media coverage tends to increase a politician's accountability when it comes to migration policy making, while we find no effect for trade policy. Our results thus suggest that more information on the behavior of elected officials affects decisions only when the policy issue is perceived to be salient by the electorate.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanni Facchini & Tommaso Frattini & Cora Signorotto, 2013. "Mind What Your Voters Read: Media Exposure and International Economic Policy Making," Development Working Papers 358, Centro Studi Luca d'Agliano, University of Milano.
    • Handle: RePEc:csl:devewp:358
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    File URL: https://www.dagliano.unimi.it//media/WP2013_358.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Malcolm, Michael, 2017. "Do local exports impact congressional voting on free trade agreements?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 31-34.
    2. Hatton, Tim, 2017. "Public Opinion on Immigration in Europe: Preference versus Salience," CEPR Discussion Papers 12084, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    3. David H. Bearce & Brendan J. Connell, 2023. "Government compensation and citizen support for immigration openness," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(1), pages 5-27, March.
    4. Casarico, Alessandra & Facchini, Giovanni & Frattini, Tommaso, 2018. "What drives the legalization of immigrants? Evidence from IRCA," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 258-273.
    5. Bellani, Luna & Fabella, Vigile Marie, 2018. "Upward Income Mobility and Legislator Support for Education Policies," IZA Discussion Papers 11324, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Giacomo Battiston, 2022. "Rescue on Stage: Border Enforcement and Public Attention in the Mediterranean Sea," "Marco Fanno" Working Papers 0292, Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche "Marco Fanno".

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Trade Reforms; Immigration Reforms; Individual preferences; Media exposure;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers

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