Not always a Panacea: History education and identity-building in Taiwan

Justin Jihao Hong and Yuhan Lyu

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2025, vol. 229, issue C

Abstract: We study the impact of history curricula on national identity in Taiwan. The high school curriculum reform of September 2006 separates the history of Taiwan from Chinese chronology and increases Taiwan-oriented content to transmit Taiwanese identity. We document an unintended “backlash” that individuals studying the new curriculum are more likely to hold both greater Taiwanese and Chinese identities. Our analysis suggests endogenous changes in information demand as a prominent mechanism: treated high schoolers show greater identity awareness and acquire more information related to both identities. We further observe consistent attitudinal changes, with milder political views and an increase in votes for median candidates or abstention.

Keywords: Cultural transmission; Curriculum; Identity; Nation-building; Persuasion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D83 I28 P00 Z10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:229:y:2025:i:c:s0167268124004517

DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2024.106837

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