Working Paper: NBER ID: w12128
Authors: Edward L. Glaeser; Giacomo Ponzetto; Andrei Shleifer
Abstract: Across countries, education and democracy are highly correlated. We motivate empirically and then model a causal mechanism explaining this correlation. In our model, schooling teaches people to interact with others and raises the benefits of civic participation, including voting and organizing. In the battle between democracy and dictatorship, democracy has a wide potential base of support but offers weak incentives to its defenders. Dictatorship provides stronger incentives to a narrower base. As education raises the benefits of civic participation, it raises the support for more democratic regimes relative to dictatorships. This increases the likelihood of democratic revolutions against dictatorships, and reduces that of successful anti-democratic coups.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: D72; D74; H11
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Education (I29) | Civic Participation (K16) |
| Civic Participation (K16) | Support for Democratic Regimes (P33) |
| Education (I29) | Support for Democratic Regimes (P33) |
| Higher Education (I23) | Transitions from Dictatorship to Democracy (P39) |
| Education (I29) | Democratic Stability (C62) |
| Education (I29) | Benefits of Political Participation (D72) |