Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/263493 
Year of Publication: 
2022
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 15277
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This paper examines the role of local TV market structure in US congressional politics, exploiting variation in the overlaps of political markets and TV markets. Local TV stations are hypothesized to report relatively more per US House representative in less populous markets (where the number of House districts covered is smaller), leading to better informed voters and more accountable representatives. We find that smaller markets are indeed associated with (i) higher coverage of representatives, and (ii) a higher level of voters' knowledge about their representatives. However, (iii) representatives of smaller and more congruent markets are only more likely to decide aligned with their constituents' policy preferences in highly competitive districts. This evidence suggests that local political news coverage on TV serves as a complement rather than a substitute in holding members of the US Congress accountable.
Subjects: 
political accountability
market congruence
media coverage
TV markets
legislative voting
US Congress
voter knowledge
campaign finance
JEL: 
D72
L82
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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