Broadband internet and fact-resistant beliefs: The case of climate change skepticism
Type
conference contribution
Date Issued
2024-06-06
Author(s)
Abstract
In the present study, I explore the informational role of broadband internet in forming
and spreading fact-resistant attitudes, specifically climate change skepticism. My approach
uses fine-grained broadband quality data in the U.S. along with an identification strategy
relying on terrain-induced variations in the cost of broadband deployment. Overall, the
results indicate that better internet can encourage unwarranted skepticism, albeit only
to a limited extent. Suggestive evidence is further consistent with middle-aged and more
Republican-leaning segments of the population driving any negative overall impacts toward
denialism, while younger and less conservative segments, if at all, tend to respond in the
opposite way.
and spreading fact-resistant attitudes, specifically climate change skepticism. My approach
uses fine-grained broadband quality data in the U.S. along with an identification strategy
relying on terrain-induced variations in the cost of broadband deployment. Overall, the
results indicate that better internet can encourage unwarranted skepticism, albeit only
to a limited extent. Suggestive evidence is further consistent with middle-aged and more
Republican-leaning segments of the population driving any negative overall impacts toward
denialism, while younger and less conservative segments, if at all, tend to respond in the
opposite way.
Keywords
Broadband internet
climate change denial misinformation
digital infrastructure JEL codes H40, H54, D83, O33, Q54
Event Title
Annual Meeting of the Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics
Event Location
Lucerne, Switzerland
Event Date
6-7 June 2024
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JMP_Matthias_Roesti_current_online-1.pdf
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