Broadband internet and fact-resistant beliefs: The case of climate change skepticism *
Type
conference contribution
Date Issued
2024-04-04
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.
Keywords
Broadband internet
climate change denial misinformation
digital infrastructure JEL codes H40, H54, D83, O33, Q54
Event Title
European Public Choice Society Conference 2024
Event Location
Vienna, Austria
Event Date
2-5 April 2024
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
open.access
Name
JMP_Matthias_Roesti_current_online-1.pdf
Size
1.31 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
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