Sunlight Disinfects? Free Media in Weak Democracies

• In Event: Politicians and the Media

Brief Overview

We argue that the disinfectant role of media can be limited and even have unintended negative consequences. We show that a media scandal that exposes tainted candidates increases coercion to offset the media-driven negative popularity
shock.

Authors

• Mauricio Andres Vela, Washington University in St Louis

• Juan F. Vargas, Universidad del Rosario

• Leopoldo Fergusson, Universidad de los Andes