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  3. American Economic Review
  4. June 2006
  5. Handcuffs for the Grabbing Hand? Media Capture and Government Accountability

Handcuffs for the Grabbing Hand? Media Capture and Government Accountability

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Abstract

It has long been recognized that the media play an essential role in government accountability. Even in the absence of censorship, however, the government may influence news content by maintaining a "cozy" relationship with the media. This paper develops a model of democratic politics in which media capture is endogenous. The model offers insights into the features of the media market that determine the ability of the government to exercise such capture and hence to influence political outcomes. (JEL D72, D73, L82)

Citation

Besley, Timothy, and Andrea Prat. 2006. "Handcuffs for the Grabbing Hand? Media Capture and Government Accountability." American Economic Review, 96 (3): 720-736. DOI: 10.1257/aer.96.3.720

Additional Materials

JEL Classification

  • D72 Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
  • L82 Entertainment; Media