VoxTalks Economics S8 Ep24: Do friendships change our political opinions?
9 snips
May 9, 2025 Yves Zenou, an economist at Monash University and a CEPR fellow, shares insights from his research on how friendship influences political opinions. He discusses a decade-old experiment at Sciences Po, revealing that brief social interactions among students can bridge political divides. The conversation touches on the impact of social media on political polarization and the significance of events like Integration Week in fostering connections. Zenou emphasizes the necessity of dialogue in reducing political extremism and promoting understanding across differing viewpoints.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Echo Chambers Fuel Polarization
- Social media amplifies political polarization by creating echo chambers where people only hear similar opinions.
- This leads to "affective polarization," where emotional rejection blocks consideration of opposing views.
Less Campus Interaction, More Polarization
- Reduced physical attendance at university after COVID limits student interactions and increases polarization.
- Recorded lectures replace live interaction, reducing opportunities for opinion exchange and learning.
Sciences Po: Hotbed of Political Engagement
- Sciences Po students are highly politically engaged and heated in their debates due to the school’s role as a political incubator.
- Almost all French presidents for the last 60 years attended this politically charged institution.