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Kevin
Kevin Carney is a development economist studying political economy and behavioral economics. His research uses field experiments to answer policy questions in developing countries.
He received a PhD in Public Policy (Economics Track) from Harvard in 2022, and hold a master's degree from the Paris School of Economics and a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan, both in economics. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Development Innovation Lab at the University of Chicago.
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The WhatsApp effect: Evidence on political engagement, preferences and polarisation
In recent years, political parties in India have increasingly leveraged WhatsApp as a tool to reach voters, raising concerns about the influence of social media on the democratic process. This article looks at the effects of interpersonal nature of social media and its ability to engage voters. In the context of the 2021 elections in Tamil Nadu, it finds that political WhatsApp groups improve voter knowledge, without increasing polarisation, and only sway the party preferences of moderates.
