Warwick Econ Sounds
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Warwick Econ Sounds is a podcast series from the Department of Economics, University of Warwick, providing research-based discussion and expert analysis of key societal and economic issues. With contributions from leading academic and professional economists, the series discusses and debates the nature of the discipline itself, exploring how economists can help solve global problems and ultimately how economics impacts everyday life.
Our podcasts aim to provide insight relevant to students, members of the research community and wider public interested in finding out more about the issues our researchers investigate and why. In addition, the series is relevant for policymakers, journalists and other stakeholders who use research-based expertise and recommendations to inform their work.
How does social media influence voting outcomes?
16:25, Wed 28 Oct 2020
Dr Michela Redoano discusses how political campaigning on social media – especially Facebook – affected the outcome of the 2016 US presidential election. She explores how microtargeting – sending voters personalised messages based on data about their interests and behaviour on social media – was used to influence voting decisions, and the threat of misinformation. What are the implications of social media for democracy? And has anything changed in the context of the 2020 election?
Dr Redoano also talks about her research into cultural inheritance, which explores how culture is transmitted between generations and affects people’s values, behaviours and ultimately voting decisions.
Dr Redoano is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at Warwick University. She teaches modules on the Empirical Political Economy and Microeconomics.
Find out more about Dr Redoano’s research:
- Politics in the Facebook Era. Evidence from the 2016 US Presidential Elections. (2020) (with Federica Liberini, Antonio Russo, Angel Cuevas and Ruben Cuevas), CESIfo working paper 8235, (under revision).
- The Transmission of Cultural Identity and Social Capital in Italy. (2020) (with Daniel Sgroi, Federica Liberini, Ben Lockwood, Francesco Porcelli, Emanuele Bracco). Ethical Approval granted. TWERP working paper 1283, (under revision).
- Happy Voters. (2017) (with Federica Liberini and Eugenio Proto), Journal of Public Economics, Volume 146, pp, 41–57.
(MP3 format, 22 MB)