The Negative Impacts of Misinformation on Knowledge Economy: Implications for Academic Libraries and Knowledge Infrastructures
Misinformation poses a significant threat to the knowledge economy, undermining trust, distorting markets, hindering innovation and eroding the credibility of scientific research. The knowledge economy relies on the free flow of credible information, but misinformation and disinformation can disrupt this process, leading to measurable welfare losses. We conducted a semi-systematic literature review of 11 scientific articles on misinformation and knowledge economy. Findings reveal that misinformation has negative impacts on: epistemic trust, markets and productivity, innovation systems, human capital formation, and higher education. Furthermore, academic libraries play a crucial role in mitigating these effects by promoting information literacy, defending their role as trustworthy intermediaries, and collaborating with other knowledge-producing institutions. By recognizing libraries as core infrastructures of the knowledge economy, we can work towards sustaining the integrity and productivity of the global knowledge economy. This study concludes by highlighting the role of academic libraries in promoting information literacy and combating misinformation, particularly in emerging knowledge economies.
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