CLEAN - LSE Seminar Series - Mahima Vasishth (Bocconi University)

The next CLEAN seminar, in collaboration with LSE, will take place on Wednesday, February 14th 2024, from 4-5 p.m. Italian time.

The presenter will be Mahima Vasishth (Bocconi University). The title of the paper is "Local Media Reports about Sexual Crimes and Judicial Outcomes in India".

Abstract:

Does media coverage of sexual crimes affect judicial decision-making? I answer this question using rich administrative data on the universe of cases filed in lower courts in India. I combine this court data with high-frequency daily district-level media coverage of sexual crime events that are unrelated to the case on trial. Using a generalized difference-in-difference model, I find that judges are more likely to convict individuals charged with sexual crimes that carry low punishments. I find suggestive evidence that a central mechanism behind this result is heightened judicial scrutiny of these cases in response to greater media coverage. I do not find an impact on the more serious sexual crimes that may involve forensic evidence. These findings highlight the role of media as an extra-legal factor impacting judicial decision-making processes.

You may follow the event online via Zoom Meetings at the following link: https://unibocconi-it.zoom.us/j/93537893727?pwd=cm9lbEsyRFQwUXExc1NiRjN5dVh2dz09 - Meeting ID: 935 3789 3727 - Passcode: 327396