Media and Social Capital
Working Paper 29230
DOI 10.3386/w29230
Issue Date
We survey the empirical literature in economics on the impact of media technologies on social capital. Motivated by a simple model of information and collective action, we cover a range of different outcomes related to social capital, from social and political participation to interpersonal trust, in its benign and destructive manifestations. The impact of media technologies hinges on their content ("information" vs "entertainment"), their effectiveness in fostering coordination, and the networks they create, as well as individual characteristics and media consumption choices.
Published Versions
Filipe Campante & Ruben Durante & Andrea Tesei, 2022. "Media and Social Capital," Annual Review of Economics, vol 14(1). citation courtesy of