American Economic Review
ISSN 0002-8282 (Print) | ISSN 1944-7981 (Online)
Media, Pulpit, and Populist Persuasion: Evidence from Father Coughlin
American Economic Review
vol. 111,
no. 9, September 2021
(pp. 3064–92)
(Complimentary)
Abstract
I study the political impact of the first populist radio personality in American history. Father Charles Coughlin blended populist demagoguery, anti-Semitism, and fascist sympathies to create a hugely popular radio program that attracted 30 million weekly listeners in the 1930s. I find that exposure to Father Coughlin's anti-Roosevelt broadcast reduced Franklin D. Roosevelt's vote share in the 1936 presidential election. Coughlin's effects were larger among Catholics and persisted after Coughlin left the air. Moreover, places more exposed to Coughlin's broadcast were more likely to form a local branch of the pro-Nazi German-American Bund and sold fewer war bonds during World War II.Citation
Wang, Tianyi. 2021. "Media, Pulpit, and Populist Persuasion: Evidence from Father Coughlin." American Economic Review, 111 (9): 3064–92. DOI: 10.1257/aer.20200513Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D72 Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
- L82 Entertainment; Media
- N32 Economic History: Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy: U.S.; Canada: 1913-
- N42 Economic History: Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation: U.S.; Canada: 1913-
- Z12 Cultural Economics: Religion