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The Voice of Radio in the Battle for Equal Rights: Evidence from the U.S. South

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  • Andrea Bernini

Abstract

Although the 1960s race riots have gone down in history as America's most violent and destructive ethnic civil disturbances, a single common factor able to explain their insurgence is yet to be found. Using a novel data set on the universe of radio stations airing black-appeal programming, the effect of media on riots is found to be sizable and statistically signiï¬ cant. A marginal increase in the signal reception from these stations is estimated to lead to a 7% and 15% rise in the mean levels of the likelihood and intensity of riots, respectively. Several mechanisms behind this result are considered, with the quantity, quality, and the length of exposure to radio programming all being decisive factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrea Bernini, 2020. "The Voice of Radio in the Battle for Equal Rights: Evidence from the U.S. South," Oxford Economic and Social History Working Papers _181, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:oxf:esohwp:_181
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Minority Rights; Media; Conflict; Enfranchisement;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • N92 - Economic History - - Regional and Urban History - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions

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