Information Age: How Blogs Transforms Attitudes

From a paper written by David McKenzie and Berk Özler of the World Bank

There is a proliferation of economics blogs, with increasing numbers of economists attracting large numbers of readers, yet little is known about the impact of this new medium. Using a variety of experimental and non-experimental techniques, this study quantifies some of their effects.

First, links from blogs cause a striking increase in the number of abstract views and downloads of economics papers.

Second, blogging raises the profile of the blogger (and his or her institution) and boosts their reputation above economists with similar publication records.

Finally, a blog can transform attitudes about some of the topics it covers

(hat tip Mark Perry)

My take:

Blogs offer alternative channels to access to information and knowledge.

Blogs provide unofficial channels of education.

Blogs challenges the vertical flow of information which mainstream institutions have been based upon.

Blogs democratizes self-expression and the conveyance of information and knowledge.

Blogs are where ideas mate and procreate.

Blogs have signified as instruments of free markets in the realm of idea markets.