Information campaigns and public perceptions of structural reforms

Evidence from a survey experiment on gasoline subsidy reform in Nigeria

Bibliographic Data

ID11680586
AuthorsJoonseok Yang (0000-0003-2895-6365, Sungkyunkwan University Seoul South Korea, corresponding author), Tom Moerenhout (0000-0001-8719-8096, Columbia University Brooklyn New York USA)
Year2024
Volume43
Issue2
Pages509-529
Publication date2024-01-10
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Policy Analysis and Management (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0276-8739 • E-ISSN: 1520-6688
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/pam.22561
OpenAlexW4390718388
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited58

Governments often reform financial policies, such as industrial subsidies taxes and currency exchange rates, during times of fiscal distress. Existing studies suggest that information campaigns can improve popular support for policy reforms that promise longer term macroeconomic growth but come with short‐term financial costs to people's livelihoods. This article assesses the effects of information campaigns on the acceptance of fossil fuel subsidy reforms in Nigeria, a type of fiscal reform that many developing countries may adopt in the coming years. A randomized survey experiment imbedded in a nationally representative survey of Nigerian households investigates whether information interventions lead Nigerians to change their opinion on fossil fuel subsidy reforms. We find that merely providing factual information does not affect whether or not people support fossil fuel subsidy reforms. Moreover, we find that factual information helps supporters articulate their preferences and weakens the propensity of opponents to use wrongful information to justify their position

Business · Currency · Developing country · Economic growth · Economic policy · Economics · Livelihood · Market economy · Monetary economics · Political science · Psychological intervention · Public economics · Public opinion · Subsidy · Survey data collection · Climate Change Policy and Economics · Energy, Environment, and Transportation Policies · Energy, Environment, Economic Growth

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