Who Owns the Media?

51 Pages Posted: 10 May 2001 Last revised: 26 Aug 2022

See all articles by Simeon Djankov

Simeon Djankov

London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE); Peterson Institute for International Economics

Caralee McLiesh

World Bank - International Finance Corporation (IFC)

Tatiana Nenova

World Bank - Policy Unit; World Bank, South Asia; Harvard University - Department of Economics

Andrei Shleifer

Harvard University - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: May 2001

Abstract

We examine the patterns of media ownership in 97 countries around the world. We find that almost universally the largest media firms are owned by the government or by private families. Government ownership is more pervasive in broadcasting than in the printed media. Government ownership of the media is generally associated with less press freedom, fewer political and economic rights, and, most conspicuously, inferior social outcomes in the areas of education and health. It does not appear that adverse consequences of government ownership of the media are restricted solely to the instances of government monopoly.

Suggested Citation

Djankov, Simeon and McLiesh, Caralee and Nenova, Tatiana and Nenova, Tatiana and Shleifer, Andrei, Who Owns the Media? (May 2001). NBER Working Paper No. w8288, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=269538

Simeon Djankov (Contact Author)

London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) ( email )

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Peterson Institute for International Economics ( email )

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Caralee McLiesh

World Bank - International Finance Corporation (IFC) ( email )

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Tatiana Nenova

World Bank - Policy Unit ( email )

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World Bank, South Asia ( email )

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Harvard University - Department of Economics

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Andrei Shleifer

Harvard University - Department of Economics ( email )

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