Abstract

We provide a selective survey of empirical evidence on the effects as well as the drivers of persuasive communication. We consider persuasion directed at consumers, voters, donors, and investors. We organize our review around four questions. First, to what extent does persuasion affect the behavior of each of these groups? Second, what models best capture the response to persuasive communication? Third, what are persuaders' incentives, and what limits their ability to distort communications? Finally, what evidence exists on the way persuasion affects equilibrium outcomes in economics and politics?

Keywords

PersuasionIncentivePersuasive communicationEmpirical evidencePoliticsEconomicsEmpirical researchSocial psychologyPsychologyMicroeconomicsPositive economicsAdvertisingPolitical scienceBusiness

Affiliated Institutions

Related Publications

Publication Info

Year
2010
Type
article
Volume
2
Issue
1
Pages
643-669
Citations
526
Access
Closed

External Links

Social Impact

Altmetric

Social media, news, blog, policy document mentions

Citation Metrics

526
OpenAlex

Cite This

Stefano DellaVigna, Matthew Gentzkow (2010). Persuasion: Empirical Evidence. Annual Review of Economics , 2 (1) , 643-669. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.economics.102308.124309

Identifiers

DOI
10.1146/annurev.economics.102308.124309