Is the Internet Causing Political Polarization? Evidence from Demographics / Levi Boxell, Matthew Gentzkow, Jesse M. Shapiro.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Boxell, Levi.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Gentzkow, Matthew.

Shapiro, Jesse M.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w23258.

NBER working paper series no. w23258

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2017.

Summary:

We combine nine previously proposed measures to construct an index of political polarization among US adults. We find that the growth in polarization in recent years is largest for the demographic groups least likely to use the internet and social media. For example, our overall index and eight of the nine individual measures show greater increases for those older than 75 than for those aged 18-39. These facts argue against the hypothesis that the internet is a primary driver of rising political polarization.

Notes:

Print version record

March 2017.