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Media's role in the making of a democrat: Evidence from East Germany

Author

Listed:
  • Friehe, Tim
  • Müller, Helge
  • Neumeier, Florian

Abstract

This paper explores the causal influence of media content on voting behavior. We exploit a natural experiment involving access to West German TV within the German Democratic Republic. Focusing on federal and state election outcomes in the post-reunification decade (i.e., a time at which TV content was harmonized), we find that municipalities that had access to Western TV broadcasts before reunification have lower vote shares for left-wing and right-wing extremist parties. With regard to potential channels, we provide evidence based on survey data that GDR citizens with access to West German TV were less loyal to the socialist regime, less hostile toward foreigners, and exhibited higher levels of social capital. Our findings thus support the notion that access to free media influences political attitudes and facilitates the consolidation of democracy.

Suggested Citation

  • Friehe, Tim & Müller, Helge & Neumeier, Florian, 2020. "Media's role in the making of a democrat: Evidence from East Germany," Munich Reprints in Economics 84738, University of Munich, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:lmu:muenar:84738
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    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Media påverkar politiska attityder – fallet Östtyskland
      by Niclas Berggren in Nonicoclolasos on 2019-02-25 05:15:01

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Titl, Vitezslav & De Witte, Kristof, 2022. "How politics influence public good provision," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    2. Lars Hornuf & Marc Oliver Rieger & Sven A. Hartmann, 2023. "Can television reduce xenophobia? The case of East Germany," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 76(1), pages 77-100, February.
    3. Mona Förtsch & Felix Rösel, 2019. "Ehrenamt und Toleranz brauchen lokale Wurzeln," ifo Dresden berichtet, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 26(06), pages 03-07, December.
    4. Endrich, Marek, 2020. "A Window to the World: The long-term effect of Television on Hate Crime," ILE Working Paper Series 33, University of Hamburg, Institute of Law and Economics.
    5. Hartmann, Sven A., 2024. "Television and family demography: Evidence from a natural experiment in East Germany," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    6. Fuest, Clemens & Immel, Lea & Neumeier, Florian & Peichl, Andreas, 2023. "Does expert information affect citizens’ attitudes toward Corona policies? Evidence from Germany," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    7. Sven A. Hartmann, 2026. "Fog or smog? The impact of uncensored reporting on pollution on individuals’ environmental preferences," IAAEU Discussion Papers 202601, Institute of Labour Law and Industrial Relations in the European Union (IAAEU).
    8. Chadi, Adrian & Hoffmann, Manuel, 2021. "Television, Health, and Happiness: A Natural Experiment in West Germany," IZA Discussion Papers 14721, IZA Network @ LISER.

    More about this item

    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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