Determinantes de la lectura de periodicos en colombia. un enfoque economico.

The aim of this research proj ect is to conduct an empirical analysis of the determinants of newspaper reading in Colombia. Empirical studies on the determinants of cultural participation from the perspective of cultural economics have focused on classical music, performing arts and cinema. There is a clear lack in the empirical literature explaining the determinants of newspaper reading (Chan and Goldthorpe, 2007; Torche, 2007). In individuals' decisions about whether to allocate part of their leisure time to newspaper reading against other competing alternatives (e.g., watching television, doing sports, etc.) differences can be found in access and participation to cultural goods from an economic approach. The results from this research project suggest a step forward in the empirical analysis of the determinants of cultural participation in Colombia and Latin america. Firstly, when considering cultural participation in an understudied field, that is to say, newspapers reading. Secondly, when using a rich-information database which is not broadly used in research in Colombia, such as the Cultural Consumption Survey 2012, DaNE. Thirdly, when considering Colombia exhibits high levels of inequality and low reading index, the results can support public policy strategies that aim to increase the number of people that read as an effective mechanism of cultural participation, access to information and reduction of inequality.