Why does democracy need education?

Edward Ludwig Glaeser, Giacomo Ponzetto and Andrei Shleifer

Scholarly Articles from Harvard University Department of Economics

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.

Date: 2007
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (304)

Published in Journal of Economic Growth

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Journal Article: Why does democracy need education? (2007)
Working Paper: Why Does Democracy Need Education? (2006)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hrv:faseco:27867132

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