
handle: 10419/271766 , 11573/1720129
We investigate the reaction of Italian Members of Parliament to a rigorous fact-checking of their public statements. Our research design relies on a novel randomized field experiment in collaboration with the leading Italian fact-checking company. Our results show that politicians are responsive to negative fact-checking. Specifically, we observe a significative reduction in the number of incorrect statements made by politicians after being treated. This effect persists for at least two months. We also observe a reduction in the probability of politicians making verifiable statements, suggesting that fact-checking may also increase the ambiguity of politicians' statements.
D72, accountability, politicians; accountability; ambiguity, ddc:330, D80, D91, ambiguity, D78, verifiability, politicians, RCR, fact-checking
D72, accountability, politicians; accountability; ambiguity, ddc:330, D80, D91, ambiguity, D78, verifiability, politicians, RCR, fact-checking
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 2 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
