novafrica@novasbe.pt

Is Information Power? Using Mobile Phones and Free Newspapers during an Election in Mozambique

Jenny C. Aker

Tufts University e CGD

Paul Collier

University of Oxford e CEPR

Pedro C. Vicente

Nova School of Business and Economics, NOVAFRICA e BREAD

ISSN 2183-0843
Working Paper No 1304
Setembro 2013

Resumo

African elections often reveal low levels of political accountability. We assess different forms of voter education during an election im Mozambique. Three interventions to providing information to voters and calling for their electoral participation were randomized: an SMS – based information campaingn, an SMS hotline for electoral misconduct, and the distribution of a free newspaper. To mesure impact, we look at official electoral results, reports by electoral observers, behavioral and survey data. We find positive effects of all treatments on voter turnout. We observe that the distribution of the newspaper led to more accountability-based participation and to a decrease in an electoral problems.

Transfira o PDF do Working Paper aqui

Este artigo foi publicadol no Review of Economics and Statistics Maio 2017, Volume 99(2), Páginas 185-200. Poderá encontrar a versão publicada em inglês aqui.