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  3. American Economic Journal: Microeconomics
  4. February 2023
  5. Debunking Rumors in Networks

American Economic Journal:
Microeconomics

ISSN 1945-7669 (Print) | ISSN 1945-7685 (Online)

Debunking Rumors in Networks

  • Luca P. Merlino
  • Paolo Pin
  • Nicole Tabasso
American Economic Journal: Microeconomics
vol. 15, no. 1, February 2023
(pp. 467–96)
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Abstract

We study the diffusion of a true and a false message (the rumor) in a social network. Upon hearing a message, individuals may believe it, disbelieve it, or debunk it through costly verification. Whenever the truth survives in steady state, so does the rumor. Communication intensity in itself is irrelevant for relative rumor prevalence, and the effect of homophily depends on the exact verification process and equilibrium verification rates. Our model highlights that successful policies in the fight against rumors increase individuals' incentives to verify.

Citation

Merlino, Luca P., Paolo Pin, and Nicole Tabasso. 2023. "Debunking Rumors in Networks." American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, 15 (1): 467–96. DOI: 10.1257/mic.20200403

Additional Materials

JEL Classification

  • D83 Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
  • D85 Network Formation and Analysis: Theory
  • L82 Entertainment; Media
  • Z13 Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification
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