Radio, History and Economics of

Since its beginnings, radio has evolved in different ways and into a variety of models. Inventions from the last half of the 19th century opened a wide range of radio broadcasting activities, carried out in the social environment. Its technical and social evolution has generally been based on market needs, regarding both the process of production and reception. Yet nonprofit forms of radio broadcasting were also developed. This entry discusses the origins of radio broadcasting and its consequences, early uses of radio for propaganda, radio broadcast models, international broadcasting services, digital radio, and the economics of radio.