Two Double-Edged Swords: Media Freedom and Local Elections in Autocracies

• In Event: Sound of Silence: Media in Authoritarian Regimes

Brief Overview

Local elections and free media substitute in autocracies. Both institutions check local officials, so their benefits overlap. Yet, due to the additional risks when they are used simultaneously, a dictator is little incentivized to use both.

Authors

• Junhyeok Jang, University of California, Merced

• Haifeng Huang, University of California-Merced