11.04.2013 • 13/2013
TV-Konsum weckt Konsumwünsche – Im Tal der Ahnungslosen war man weniger materialistisch
Fernsehkonsum beeinflusst unsere materiellen Präferenzen. Zu diesem Ergebnis kommt eine Untersuchung des Instituts für Wirtschaftsforschung Halle (IWH). Um den Effekt methodisch einwandfrei identifizieren zu können, machen sich die Autoren der Studie ein einzigartiges natürliches Experiment innerhalb der DDR zunutze. Aufgrund von topographischen Gegebenheiten konnten die Menschen in bestimmten Regionen der DDR wie im Bezirk Dresden kein Westfernsehprogramm empfangen, während es andernorts möglich war. Die Analyse von Umfragedaten des Zentralinstituts für Jugendforschung der DDR aus den Jahren 1988/1989 belegt, dass Bevölkerungsgruppen, die Westfernsehen konsumierten, höhere Ansprüche an Konsum und Einkommen hatten als die Bewohner im Dresdner „Tal der Ahnungslosen“.
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The Causal Effect of Watching TV on Material Aspirations: Evidence from the “Valley of the Innocent”
Walter Hyll, Lutz Schneider
Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization,
No. 86,
2013
Abstract
The paper addresses the question of whether TV consumption has an impact on material aspirations. We exploit a natural experiment that took place during the period in which Germany was divided. Owing to geographical reasons TV programs from the Federal Republic of Germany could not be received in all parts of the German Democratic Republic. Therefore a natural variation occurred in exposure to West German television. We find robust evidence that watching TV is positively correlated with aspirations. Our identification strategy implies a causal relationship running from TV to aspirations. This conclusion resists various sets of alternative specifications and samples.
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The Causal Effect of Watching TV on Material Aspirations: Evidence from the “Valley of the Innocent”
Walter Hyll, Lutz Schneider
Abstract
The paper addresses the question of whether TV consumption has an impact on material aspirations. We exploit a natural experiment that took place during the period in which Germany was divided. Owing to geographical reasons, TV programs from the Federal Republic of Germany could not be received in all parts of the German Democratic Republic. Therefore, a natural variation occurred in exposure to West German television. We find robust evidence that watching TV is positively correlated with aspirations. Our identification strategy implies a causal relationship running from TV to aspirations. This conclusion resists various sets of alternative specifications and samples.
Read article
