People have been complaining about “fake news” since at least the late 1800s, according to Merriam-Webster. Yet there is something new about our current malaise.

In national political and civil discourse, disagreement over facts appears to be greater than ever. In a recent report for the non-partisan RAND Corporation, we call the problem "Truth Decay" and present evidence that the disputes over facts and reasoned analyses of facts are worse today than in previous eras in our nation's history.

Are major cities experiencing growing or declining violent crime rates? Has widespread illegal voting occurred or is that a bunch of hooey? Do immigrants contribute their fair share to the economy or do they overburden it? These are just a few examples of the fractures riddling American public life that persist or are worsening despite the availability of reliable data to provide solid answers. Until now, little empirical research has examined the causes of this perplexing shift away from verifiable facts and figures.

Drawing on an extensive review of popular and academic literature, survey data and historical analysis, our study defines four basic elements of Truth Decay in modern times: increasing disagreement about facts and analytical interpretations of facts; a blurring of the line between fact and opinion; the heightened relative volume and influence of opinion and personal experience over fact; and declining faith in formerly respected sources of factual information, including the government and the news media. These trends threaten civil discourse and could lead to political paralysis, disengagement from political and civic institutions, and uncertainty over national policies.

Read the full article about the diminishing role of facts in American public life by Michael D. Rich and Jennifer Kavanagh at rand.org.