Overthrowing the dictator: a game-theoretic approach to revolutions and media

Article

Kiss, H., Rodriguez-Lara, I. and Rosa-García, A. 2017. Overthrowing the dictator: a game-theoretic approach to revolutions and media. Social Choice and Welfare. 49 (2), pp. 329-355. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00355-017-1067-3
TypeArticle
TitleOverthrowing the dictator: a game-theoretic approach to revolutions and media
AuthorsKiss, H., Rodriguez-Lara, I. and Rosa-García, A.
Abstract

A distinctive feature of recent revolutions was the key role of social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube). In this paper, we study its role in mobilization. We assume that social media allow potential participants to observe the individual participation decisions of others, while traditional mass media allow potential participants to see only the total number of people who participated before them. We show that when individuals’ willingness to revolt is publicly known, then both sorts of media foster a successful revolution. However, when willingness to revolt is private information, only social media ensure that a revolt succeeds, with mass media multiple outcomes are possible, one of which has individuals not participating in the revolt. This suggests that social media enhance the likelihood that a revolution triumphs more than traditional mass media.

PublisherSpringer
JournalSocial Choice and Welfare
ISSN0176-1714
Publication dates
Online16 Jun 2017
Print01 Aug 2017
Publication process dates
Deposited07 Jun 2017
Accepted08 Jun 2017
Output statusPublished
Publisher's version
License
Accepted author manuscript
Copyright Statement

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00355-017-1067-3

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1007/s00355-017-1067-3
LanguageEnglish
Permalink -

https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/86zvv

Log in to edit

Download files

Publisher's version
10.1007%2Fs00355-017-1067-3.pdf
License: CC BY 4.0

Accepted author manuscript
YSCW.pdf

  • 22
    total views
  • 16
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 1
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

When the rich do (not) trust the (newly) rich: experimental evidence on the effects of positive random shocks in the trust game
Bejarano, H., Gillet, J. and Rodriguez-Lara, I. 2025. When the rich do (not) trust the (newly) rich: experimental evidence on the effects of positive random shocks in the trust game. Southern Economic Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/soej.12758
Trust and trustworthiness after negative random shocks
Bejarano, H., Gillet, J. and Rodriguez-Lara, I. 2021. Trust and trustworthiness after negative random shocks. Journal of Economic Psychology. 86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2021.102422
Preferences for efficiency, rather than preferences for morality, drive cooperation in the one-shot Stag-Hunt game
Capraro, V., Rodriguez-Lara, I. and Ruiz-Martos, M. 2020. Preferences for efficiency, rather than preferences for morality, drive cooperation in the one-shot Stag-Hunt game. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics. 86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2020.101535
Cheating, incentives, and money manipulation
Charness, G., Blanco-Jimenez, C., Ezquerra, L. and Rodriguez-Lara, I. 2019. Cheating, incentives, and money manipulation. Experimental Economics: A Journal of the Economic Science Association. 22 (1), pp. 155-177. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10683-018-9584-1
No evidence of inequality aversion in the investment game
Rodriguez-Lara, I. 2018. No evidence of inequality aversion in the investment game. PLoS ONE. 13 (10). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0204392
Do negative random shocks affect trust and trustworthiness?
Bejarano, H., Gillet, J. and Rodriguez-Lara, I. 2018. Do negative random shocks affect trust and trustworthiness? Southern Economic Journal. 85 (2), pp. 563-579. https://doi.org/10.1002/soej.12302
Thinking fast, thinking badly
Jimenez Jimenez, N., Rodriguez-Lara, I., Tyran, J. and Wengstrom, E. 2018. Thinking fast, thinking badly. Economics Letters. 162, pp. 41-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2017.10.018
Gender differences in cheating: loss vs gain framing
Ezquerra Guerra, L., Kolev, G. and Rodriguez-Lara, I. 2018. Gender differences in cheating: loss vs gain framing. Economics Letters. 163, pp. 46-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2017.11.016
Panic bank runs
Kiss, H., Rodriguez-Lara, I. and Rosa-García, A. 2018. Panic bank runs. Economics Letters. 162, pp. 146-149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2017.11.014
The emergence of altruism as a social norm
Pereda, M., Branas-Garza, P., Rodriguez-Lara, I. and Sanchez, A. 2017. The emergence of altruism as a social norm. Scientific Reports. 7. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-07712-9
Humans expect generosity
Branas-Garza, P., Rodriguez-Lara, I. and Sanchez, A. 2017. Humans expect generosity. Scientific Reports. 7. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep42446
Social motives vs social influence: an experiment on interdependent time preferences
Rodriguez-Lara, I. and Ponti, G. 2017. Social motives vs social influence: an experiment on interdependent time preferences. Games and Economic Behavior. 105, pp. 177-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geb.2017.06.007
Financial crisis and panic in the laboratory
Kiss, H., Rodriguez-Lara, I. and Rosa-García, A. 2016. Financial crisis and panic in the laboratory. in: Branas-Garza, P. and Cabrales, A. (ed.) Experimental Economics: Volume II: Economic Applications London Palgrave Macmillan UK. pp. 92-121
Carry a big stick, or no stick at all: punishment and endowment heterogeneity in the trust game
Calabuig, V., Fatas, E., Olcina, G. and Rodriguez-Lara, I. 2016. Carry a big stick, or no stick at all: punishment and endowment heterogeneity in the trust game. Journal of Economic Psychology. 57, pp. 153-171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2016.09.006
Equity and bargaining power in ultimatum games
Rodriguez-Lara, I. 2016. Equity and bargaining power in ultimatum games. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization. 130, pp. 144-165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2016.07.007
An experimental study of gender differences in distributive justice
Rodriguez-Lara, I. 2015. An experimental study of gender differences in distributive justice. Cuadernos de Economía - Spanish Journal of Economics and Finance. 38 (106), pp. 27-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cesjef.2014.01.001
Do social networks prevent or promote bank runs?
Kiss, H., Rodriguez-Lara, I. and Rosa-García, A. 2014. Do social networks prevent or promote bank runs? Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization. 101, pp. 87-99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2014.01.019
Are you a good employee or simply a good guy? influence costs and contract design
Corgnet, B. and Rodriguez-Lara, I. 2013. Are you a good employee or simply a good guy? influence costs and contract design. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization. 92, pp. 259-272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2013.06.003
Do women panic more than men? an experimental study of financial decisions
Kiss, H., Rodriguez-Lara, I. and Rosa-García, A. 2014. Do women panic more than men? an experimental study of financial decisions. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics. 52, pp. 40-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2014.06.003
Think twice before running! Bank runs and cognitive abilities
Kiss, H., Rodriguez-Lara, I. and Rosa-García, A. 2016. Think twice before running! Bank runs and cognitive abilities. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics. 64, pp. 12-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2015.01.006
Social preferences and cognitive reflection: evidence from a dictator game experiment
Ponti, G. and Rodriguez-Lara, I. 2015. Social preferences and cognitive reflection: evidence from a dictator game experiment. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00146
On the effects of deposit insurance and observability on bank runs: an experimental study
Kiss, H., Rodriguez-Lara, I. and Rosa-García, A. 2012. On the effects of deposit insurance and observability on bank runs: an experimental study. Journal of Money, Credit and Banking. 44 (8), pp. 1651-1665. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1538-4616.2012.00548.x
Self-interest and fairness: self-serving choices of justice principles
Rodriguez-Lara, I. and Moreno-Garrido, L. 2012. Self-interest and fairness: self-serving choices of justice principles. Experimental Economics: A Journal of the Economic Science Association. 15 (1), pp. 158-175. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10683-011-9295-3