BY: CRAIG A. DEPKEN
University of Texas at Arlington
Department of Economics
Document: Available from the SSRN Electronic Paper Collection:
http://papers.ssrn.com/paper.taf?abstract_id=300859
Date: January 2001
Contact: CRAIG A. DEPKEN
Email: Mailto:depken at uta.edu
Postal: University of Texas at Arlington
Department of Economics
Box 19479 UTA
Arlington, TX 76019 UNITED STATES
Phone: 817-272-3290
Fax: 817-272-3145
ABSTRACT:
Censorship is the moral or legislative process by which society
"agrees" to limit what an individual can do, say, think, or see.
The proliferation of censorship movements of all kinds has
heretofore been relatively ignored by economists. In this study,
a conceptual model is developed describing the economic
rationale underlying an individual's relative support for
censorship, even if censorship is expected to reduce the amount
of acceptable information available. To support the conceptual
framework, the demand for Internet censorship is empirically
analyzed using survey data gathered on-line during 1998. The
results indicate the characteristics of those who tend to favor
censorship.
Keywords: political speech, Internet content, child
protection, first amendment, freedom